http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Hayley+Kilroy&feedformat=atomEEBedia - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T19:54:20ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.25.2http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Symposium_2015&diff=32954Graduate Student Symposium 20152015-02-06T15:21:45Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule */</p>
<hr />
<div><center> <big>''' <br />
== Saturday, March 7, 2015 == <br />
==== Biology/Physics Building Room 130, 9:00am to ~ 4:00pm ====<br />
'''</big> </center> <br><br />
<br><br />
The '''EEB Graduate Student Symposium''' is an all day event where graduate students present their research to other graduate students and faculty. Any EEB graduate student can present: BS/MS, masters, PhD, old and new students. New graduate students usually present research ideas or preliminary data, while those more ‘seasoned’ students present their most recent results, often in preparation for upcoming spring and summer meetings. <br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
[[Image:EEB forweb smaller.png|400px|center|]]<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Schedule==<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="80" align="center"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="175"|Speaker<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="500"|Title<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 8:30-9:00 || || Coffee and potluck breakfast.<br />
|- <br />
| 9:00-9:15 || Dr. Mun Choi: Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs || Welcome Address <br />
|- <br />
| 9:15-9:30 || Nora Mitchell || <i>Protea</i> something!<br />
|- <br />
| 9:30-9:45 || Alyssa Borowske || Something about sparrows... <br />
|- <br />
| 9:45-10:00 || Andrew Frank || TBA <br />
|- <br />
| 10:00-10:15 || Jimmy Bernot || Tapeworms in Mustelus spp. in the Atlantic, from 1819 to 2015<br />
|- <br />
| 10:15-10:30 || Chris Nadeau || TBA<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 10:30-11:00 || || '''Morning Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 11:00-11:15 ||Jan-Michael Hessenauer, NRE|| <br />
|- <br />
| 11:15-11:30 || Chris Field || TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 11:30-11:45 || Simona Augyte || Kelping in the northeast; from wave swept shores to sustainable aquaculture<br />
|- <br />
| 11:45-12:00 || Hamid Razifard || Phylogeny of Waterworts (<i>Elatine</i> L.): An Evolutionary Reversal <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 12:00-1:30 || || '''Lunch'''<br />
|- <br />
| 1:30-2:00 || Dr. Chris Martine, Bucknell University || Keynote Address<br />
|- <br />
| 2:00-2:15 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:15-2:30 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:30-2:45 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:45-3:00 || Madelynn von Baeyer, Anthropology || TBD <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 3:00-3:10 || || '''Afternoon Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:10-3:25 || Hayley Kilroy M. || Leaf Reflectance Spectra as (a) Functional Trait(s)<br />
|- <br />
| 3:25-3:40 || || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" | 3:40-4:00 || || '''Speed Talks and Photo Contest'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:40-3:45 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:45-3:50 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:50-3:55 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:55-4:00 || Photo Contest Results ||[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/2015_Biological_Photo_Contest Photo Submissions]<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br><br />
[[Image:EEB forweb smaller.png|400px|center|]]<br />
<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Abstracts==<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Graduate Research Symposium]]<br />
[[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]<br />
__NOTOC__</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Symposium_2014&diff=28466Graduate Student Symposium 20142014-02-22T13:05:27Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule */</p>
<hr />
<div><center> <big>''' <br />
== Saturday, March 8, 2014 == <br />
==== Biology/Physics Building Room 130, 9:00am to ~ 4:00pm ====<br />
'''</big> </center> <br><br />
<br><br />
The '''EEB Graduate Student Symposium''' is an all day event where graduate students present their research to other graduate students and faculty. Any EEB graduate student can present: BSMS, masters, PhD, old and new students. New graduate students usually present research ideas or preliminary data, while those more ‘seasoned’ students present their most recent results, often in preparation for upcoming spring and summer meetings. <br />
<br><br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Schedule==<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="80" align="center"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="120"|Speaker<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="450"|Title<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 8:30-9:00 || || Coffee and potluck breakfast.<br />
|- <br />
| 9:00-9:15 || Charmane Thurmand, Interim- Special Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School for Diversity Programs || Welcome Address <br />
|- <br />
| 9:15-9:30 || Holly Brown || How do land-based piscivores overcome visual challenges at the air-water interface?<br />
|- <br />
| 9:30-9:45 || Michael Hutson || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 9:45-10:00 || Brigette Zacharczenko || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 10:00-10:15 || Ben Gagliardi || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 10:15-10:30 || Shannon Hsieh || TBD <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 10:30-11:00 || || '''Morning Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 11:00-11:15 || Michael Evans, NRE || Black Bear Ecology on a Human Dominated Landscape<br />
|- <br />
| 11:15-11:30 || Tanisha Williams || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 11:30-11:45 || Jimmy Bernot || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 11:45-12:00 || Steven Mollmann, English || Man among the Dinosaurs: Science on Display at the Creation Museum<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 12:00-1:30 || || '''Lunch'''<br />
|- <br />
| 1:30-2:00 || Dr. Tobias Landberg, Arcadia University || Keynote Address: Life History of a Biologist and the Process of Academic Metamorphosis<br />
|- <br />
| 2:00-2:15 || Jon Velotta || Reduced swimming performance follows land-locking in Alewives<br />
|- <br />
| 2:15-2:30 || Simona Augyte || Evidence for a new species of kelp from southern Maine<br />
|- <br />
| 2:30-2:45 || Veronica Bueno || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 2:45-3:00 || Hayley Kilroy M. || Seed Traits of Fynbos Communities and Conebush (''Leucadendron'') Populations<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 3:00-3:10 || || '''Afternoon Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:10-3:25 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:25-3:40 || || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" | 3:40-4:00 || || '''Speed Talks and Photo Contest'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:40-3:45 || Andrew Frank || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 3:45-3:50 || Ellen Woods || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 3:50-3:55 || Kaitlin Gallagher || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 3:55-4:00 || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/2014_Biological_Photo_Contest Photo Contest Results] ||<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Abstracts==<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Graduate Research Symposium]]<br />
[[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]<br />
__NOTOC__</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Symposium_2014&diff=28465Graduate Student Symposium 20142014-02-22T13:04:35Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule */</p>
<hr />
<div><center> <big>''' <br />
== Saturday, March 8, 2014 == <br />
==== Biology/Physics Building Room 130, 9:00am to ~ 4:00pm ====<br />
'''</big> </center> <br><br />
<br><br />
The '''EEB Graduate Student Symposium''' is an all day event where graduate students present their research to other graduate students and faculty. Any EEB graduate student can present: BSMS, masters, PhD, old and new students. New graduate students usually present research ideas or preliminary data, while those more ‘seasoned’ students present their most recent results, often in preparation for upcoming spring and summer meetings. <br />
<br><br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Schedule==<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="80" align="center"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="120"|Speaker<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="450"|Title<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 8:30-9:00 || || Coffee and potluck breakfast.<br />
|- <br />
| 9:00-9:15 || Charmane Thurmand, Interim- Special Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School for Diversity Programs || Welcome Address <br />
|- <br />
| 9:15-9:30 || Holly Brown || How do land-based piscivores overcome visual challenges at the air-water interface?<br />
|- <br />
| 9:30-9:45 || Michael Hutson || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 9:45-10:00 || Brigette Zacharczenko || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 10:00-10:15 || Ben Gagliardi || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 10:15-10:30 || Shannon Hsieh || TBD <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 10:30-11:00 || || '''Morning Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 11:00-11:15 || Michael Evans, NRE || Black Bear Ecology on a Human Dominated Landscape<br />
|- <br />
| 11:15-11:30 || Tanisha Williams || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 11:30-11:45 || Jimmy Bernot || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 11:45-12:00 || Steven Mollmann, English || Man among the Dinosaurs: Science on Display at the Creation Museum<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 12:00-1:30 || || '''Lunch'''<br />
|- <br />
| 1:30-2:00 || Dr. Tobias Landberg, Arcadia University || Keynote Address: Life History of a Biologist and the Process of Academic Metamorphosis<br />
|- <br />
| 2:00-2:15 || Jon Velotta || Reduced swimming performance follows land-locking in Alewives<br />
|- <br />
| 2:15-2:30 || Simona Augyte || Evidence for a new species of kelp from southern Maine<br />
|- <br />
| 2:30-2:45 || Veronica Bueno || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 2:45-3:00 || Hayley Kilroy M. || Seed Traits of Fynbos Communities and Conebush (_Leucadendron_) Populations<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 3:00-3:10 || || '''Afternoon Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:10-3:25 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:25-3:40 || || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" | 3:40-4:00 || || '''Speed Talks and Photo Contest'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:40-3:45 || Andrew Frank || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 3:45-3:50 || Ellen Woods || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 3:50-3:55 || Kaitlin Gallagher || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 3:55-4:00 || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/2014_Biological_Photo_Contest Photo Contest Results] ||<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Abstracts==<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Graduate Research Symposium]]<br />
[[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]<br />
__NOTOC__</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Symposium_2014&diff=28092Graduate Student Symposium 20142014-01-30T23:59:53Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule */</p>
<hr />
<div><center> <big>''' <br />
== Saturday, March 8, 2014 == <br />
==== Biology/Physics Building Room 130, 9:00am to ~ 4:00pm ====<br />
'''</big> </center> <br><br />
<br><br />
The '''EEB Graduate Student Symposium''' is an all day event where graduate students present their research to other graduate students and faculty. Any EEB graduate student can present: BSMS, masters, PhD, old and new students. New graduate students usually present research ideas or preliminary data, while those more ‘seasoned’ students present their most recent results, often in preparation for upcoming spring and summer meetings. <br />
<br><br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Schedule==<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="80" align="center"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="120"|Speaker<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="450"|Title<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 8:30-9:00 || || Coffee and potluck breakfast.<br />
|- <br />
| 9:00-9:15 || Charmane Thurmand, Interim- Special Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School for Diversity Programs || Welcome Address <br />
|- <br />
| 9:15-9:30 || Holly Brown || How do land-based piscivores overcome visual challenges at the air-water interface?<br />
|- <br />
| 9:30-9:45 || Michael Hutson || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 9:45-10:00 || Brigette Zacharczenko || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 10:00-10:15 || Ben Gagliardi || TBD<br />
|- <br />
| 10:15-10:30 || || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 10:30-11:00 || || '''Morning Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 11:00-11:15 || Michael Evans, NRE || <br />
|- <br />
| 11:15-11:30 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 11:30-11:45 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 11:45-12:00 || Steven Mollmann, English || Man among the Dinosaurs: Science on Display at the Creation Museum<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 12:00-1:30 || || '''Lunch'''<br />
|- <br />
| 1:30-2:00 || Dr. Tobias Landberg, Arcadia University || Keynote Address: Life History of a Biologist and the Process of Academic Metamorphosis<br />
|- <br />
| 2:00-2:15 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:15-2:30 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:30-2:45 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:45-3:00 || || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 3:00-3:10 || || '''Afternoon Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:10-3:25 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:25-3:40 || || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" | 3:40-4:00 || || '''Speed Talks and Photo Contest'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:40-3:45 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:45-3:50 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:50-3:55 || || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:55-4:00 || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/2014_Biological_Photo_Contest Photo Contest Results] ||<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Abstracts==<br />
<br><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Graduate Research Symposium]]<br />
[[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]<br />
__NOTOC__</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Current_Topics_in_Conservation_Biology&diff=27940Current Topics in Conservation Biology2014-01-22T16:51:10Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule (subject to change) */</p>
<hr />
<div>== EEB 5370: Climate change and extinction (Spring 2014) ==<br />
<br />
'''Credits:''' 1<br />
<br />
'''Instructor:''' [http://elphick.lab.uconn.edu/ Chris Elphick] (email: chris.elphick[AT]uconn.edu)<br />
<br />
'''Meeting time:''' 1:15-2:15 Wednesday (we may start a bit earlier if that works for everyone)<br />
<br />
'''Location:''' Bamford (TLS 179)<br />
<br />
The topic of this seminar course varies from year to year depending on what is "current" in conservation biology and what students in the program are interested in focusing on. Usually we pick a recent book or selected readings focused around a specific theme in order to get a deeper understanding of the topic than would be normal in a survey course. If you have suggestions for future topics, please let me know.<br />
<br />
This year, the topic will be climate change and extinction. The main text for the course will be [http://islandpress.org/ip/books/book/islandpress/S/bo8043433.html Saving a Million Species: Extinction Risk from Climate Change (Hannah, ed. 2011. Island Press)].<br />
<br />
The course is required for students in the EEB BS/MS program, but is open to all graduate students. A few senior (and occasionally junior) undergraduates also take the course every year, and I encourage you to do so if you are interested. To be eligible as an undergraduate, you should have at least a B average and should talk to me first. Undergraduates will need a permission number to enroll. The course is limited to ~12-15 students each year and I occasionally have to turn people away, but we try to accommodate as many people as possible. Priority is given to students in the BS/MS program who need the course to graduate. Post-docs, adjuncts, and (even) faculty are welcome to join in the fun.<br />
<br />
== Schedule (subject to change) ==<br />
<br />
A tentative schedule is posted below. Everyone should sign up to lead the discussion one week (see next section for tips on leading effectively). If you have EEBedia editing rights (i.e., if you are an EEB graduate student) then you can go in yourself and sign up to present. If you do not, email me and tell me when you'd like to lead so that I can put you on the schedule. If you are flexible on your topic/date, then include a note at the bottom of the schedule so that others know they can move things around. DO NOT MOVE ANYONE TO A DIFFERENT SLOT WITHOUT ASKING THEM FIRST. After the first meeting, I will assign weeks to anyone who has not yet signed up.<br />
<br />
If the readings your week call for a case study (see syllabus, below) then you should pick a recent paper (last ~2-3 years) from the primary literature that is relevant to your topic. You should discuss your choice with the instructor(s) at least a week beforehand (so that you have time to find something else if necessary). You are also responsible for ensuing that a link to the case study is posted on this web site before 5 pm on the FRIDAY before your presentation. If you don't know how to post them, you need to get the paper to Chris E. by Friday morning so that he can help you meet that deadline. <br />
<br />
When it is your turn to present, you should prepare:<br />
<br />
(i) A 5-10 minute (no more!) introduction to the material presented in your readings (see below for more guidance). Everyone is expected to read the assigned chapters and any associated readings so your material does not need to be an exhaustive overview - just an introduction to ensure we're all up to speed and know what you think the key points are. THE TIME LIMIT WILL BE ENFORCED - PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION<br />
<br />
(ii) Enough questions (I'd suggest 6-10) to stimulate discussion for the remaining 40-50 mins of class. These should be posted as a pdf in the Notes column of the table below by the MONDAY evening before you present. If you don't know how to post them, send them to Chris E. by Sunday evening so that he can get them up by Monday.<br />
<br />
<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"<br />
!width="75"|Week<br />
!width="100"|Who<br />
!width="200"|Topic<br />
!width="270"|Reading<br />
!width="420"|Notes<br />
|- <br />
|22 Jan || Chris E. || The history || [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v427/n6970/full/nature02121.html Thomas et al. 2004 plus "3 Communications arising"] || <br />
|- <br />
|29 Jan || Chris E. || The fall out || Preface, Ch 1-3 || Don't look at these before week 1!<br />
|- <br />
|5 Feb || Chris F. || Refining extinction estimates || Ch 4-5 || <br />
|- <br />
|12 Feb || || Current extinctions || Ch 6-8 || <br />
|-<br />
|19 Feb || Katie || Extinctions in distant past || Ch 9-10 || <br />
|- <br />
|26 Feb || Besnik || Extinctions in recent past || Ch 11-12 || <br />
|- <br />
|5 Mar || Ben || Insects || Ch 13, Case study (TBD) || <br />
|- <br />
|12 Mar || || Tropical forest systems || Ch 14, Case study (TBD) || <br />
|- <br />
|19 Mar || ---- || NO MEETING: SPRING BREAK || ---- || [https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/default.aspx?EventID=1326195 Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources]<br />
|- <br />
|26 Mar || Allison || Coral reef systems || Ch 15, Case study (TBD) || We could replace this topic as reefs are covered elsewhere<br />
|- <br />
|2 Apr || Sam || Oceanic (non-reef) systems || Ch 16, Case study (TBD) || <br />
|- <br />
|9 Apr || Cristina || Freshwater systems || Ch 17, Case study (TBD) || <br />
|- <br />
|16 Apr || Manette || Species interactions || Ch 18, Case study (TBD) || <br />
|- <br />
|23 Apr || Hayley || What's the latest? || IPCC report || Will depend on info has been released<br />
|- <br />
|31 Apr || Chris E. et al. || Wrap-up: What have we learned? || Ch 19-20 || <br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Expectations ==<br />
<br />
Here are some general comments about my expectations for the class. Exact details will vary depending on the semester's topic. Generally we will read papers or have presentations and discuss them in class each week. Most discussions will be led by students, and everyone is expected to sign up to lead at least one discussion. The schedule is posted above. <br />
<br />
'''Discussion leaders:''' Generally, my expectation is that you will present a 5-10 minute (NO MORE!) introduction to the topic. Your introduction should draw on the readings, but should not simply re-state what we have all read. Simply reiterating what the readings say is boring and doesn't accomplish much. Instead, your job as leader is to get a discussion going. This is hard (and I will help), but far more interesting for everyone involved. Here are some tips:<br />
<br />
* Make sure that you have enough to say to keep things moving, but do not feel that you have to say everything that you have thought of or cover every idea in the readings. If the conversation is going well, just let it take its course. The worst thing that can happen is that no one says anything. The next worst thing is that the leader completely dominates the conversation (I can be guilty of this sin myself, so feel free to cut me off if I'm talking too much).<br />
<br />
* In your introduction, try to synthesize the material and draw out the major points. What are the 3-5 things you'd tell your parents/partner/well-informed parrot if you were going to explain this to them over dinner - the chances are good that these are the same things we should be focused on. Also, feel free to supplement the reading material with other information on the topic to broaden the discussion.<br />
<br />
* Come with a list of questions to ask (more than you think you'll need). The more specific the questions are the better, as this makes them easier for people to respond to. Email around some questions a day or two before class so that people can think about them while they are reading the materials (if you email them to me, I will forward them to the rest of the class).<br />
<br />
* Ask people what surprised them, and why. If you're not leading, think how you'd answer this question. If people complain about the readings, ask them how things could have been done better, or what needs to be done next.<br />
<br />
* Where possible, try to relate your topic to those we have discussed in previous weeks so that the ideas covered by the class build over the course of the semester. <br />
<br />
* Being purposefully provocative (even if you don't believe what you're saying) can often help to get people talking. If the material is appropriate, set the discussion up as a debate - tell half the class that they have to argue one side and the other half that they have to argue the opposite. This approach can force people to really think about the ideas and about their preconceptions. If you are going to do this, it is best to warn people ahead of time (though don't tell them which side they will be on).<br />
<br />
* When you ask a question, give people lots of time to respond. A good rule is to (slowly) count to 10 in your head before moving on. This is because (a) it often takes people this long to formulate something to say and (b) the uncomfortable silence (and it can be excruciating) is often what it takes to get people talking. This sounds (and can feel) horrible, but it really works, and the discussions that result are much richer.<br />
<br />
* If no one answers a question, and there is a simple yes/no, do you agree/disagree, type answer, then ask for a show of hands - then you can focus in on individuals and ask them to explain their response.<br />
<br />
* Don't pick on individuals and make them comment unless you have to. But if no one says anything, then it is OK to do this. Everyone else is responsible for reading and thinking about the material too, so it should not be a surprise to them. Even though you are in charge of running things, the responsibility for maintaining a discussion lies with everyone in the room. If you think people are not engaging in the discussion enough, then it is '''your''' job to do something about it ... don't just expect me to do it for you.<br />
<br />
* Finally, in weeks when you are not leading, make sure that you have thought about the material enough that you can help the leader out. Come with at least 2 or 3 ideas to talk about if things get too quiet. If the leader has sent out questions, actually think about them before class. And be responsible about doing the reading. If you do all this stuff, others will do the same when it's your turn to lead.<br />
<br />
The hardest part is getting the conversation started. Once it's going, it will often run itself - and if it is doing this you should let it. I've been running seminars for a few years now, and I'm only just getting to where I realize that my job is to say as little as possible. If I talk the whole time, then I'm essentially lecturing ... and this is not a lecture format ... the goals are very different, they are to get people thinking on their feet and discussing ideas to help them learn the stuff for themselves. But, it is your job to ensure that we are not just subjected to silence.<br />
<br />
'''PowerPoint:''' When presenting a reading, I don't really mind whether you use PowerPoint or not. Often, it is not necessary, but sometimes it can help by putting up key talking points where everyone can see them. If you do use PowerPoint, it should be to help maintain a conversation, not to just reiterate what is in the reading. If there are figures that you want to ask questions about, then putting them up on a screen can be very useful. Likewise, having your questions on screen for people to refer to can help. I will reserve a projector for each class session, but you will need to go and get it from the EEB office before class. If you do not have a laptop, let me know and I will bring mine. <br />
<br />
'''Grading:''' The course is S/U and it is unusual for people to fail. But, if you hardly ever participate in the discussions, I will fail you. '''''This is your only warning!!'''''<br />
<br />
<br />
'' If you have never led a discussion in a seminar course before, or feel nervous about doing so, please talk to me beforehand. It isn't as hard as it might seem, and it's always easier if you're well prepared and know what to expect.''<br />
<br />
== Discussion/News ==<br />
<br />
If you have any information related to the course (e.g., relevant news items, related web links, etc.), feel free to post it here. Please put the date first, then your name; be concise; and organize the list so that items are in reverse chronological order. For an example of the right format, check out my Conservation Biology in the News site [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Conservation_biology_in_the_news here]. If you're not an EEB graduate student, then you can email items to me and I will add them, but please send them to me in the right format.<br />
<br />
== Course history ==<br />
<br />
If you are interested in the topics that we have covered in this class in past years, I have preserved previous versions of the web page, linked below.<br />
<br />
During 2013, the topic was conservation in urban settings. To see what was covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Conservation_in_urban_settings_%28EEB_5370:_Spring_2013%29 click here].<br />
<br />
During 2012, the topic was trade-offs in conservation biology. To see what was covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Conservation_trade-offs_%28EEB_5370:_Spring_2012%29 click here].<br />
<br />
During 2011, the topic was climate change. To see what was covered during that course, <br />
[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Climate_change_%28EEB_5370:_Spring_2011%29 click here].<br />
<br />
During 2010, the topic was invasion biology. To see what we covered during that course, <br />
[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Invasion_Biology_%28EEB_5370:_Spring_2010%29 click here].<br />
<br />
During 2009, the topic was evidence-based conservation. To see what we covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Evidence-based_Conservation click here].<br />
<br />
During 2008, the topic was the history of the U.S. Endangered Species Act. To see what we covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/EEB_489:_Conservation_and_the_Endangered_Species_Act_(Spring_2008) click here].<br />
<br />
During 2007, the topic was the biological consequences of climate change. To see what we covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB489/ click here].<br />
<br />
During 2006, the topic was the conservation implications of invasive species. To see what we covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB489/EEB489_2006_syllabus_invasives.htm click here].<br />
<br />
During 2005, the topic was relating general conservation approaches to local problems in New England. To see what we covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB489/EEB489_2005_syllabus.htm click here].<br />
<br />
During 2004, the topic was the role of science in the U.S. Endangered Species Act. To see what we covered during that course, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB489/EEB489_2004_syllabus.htm click here]; for a reading list, [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/courses/EEB489/ESA_readings.htm click here].<br />
<br />
== Other information ==<br />
<br />
For information about EEB's Joint B.S./M.S. degree program in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/department/BSMS/ click here]<br />
<br />
For information about the Society for Conservation Biology [http://www.conbio.org/?CFID=6617594&CFTOKEN=86148795 click here]<br />
<br />
For information on jobs in conservation biology [http://www.conbio.org/professional-development/scb-job-board/ click here]<br />
<br />
For information on jobs in wildlife biology [http://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/job-board/ click here]<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Seminars]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=26005Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-16T12:08:22Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Food and Drink */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Kathy Tebo]] (EEB administrative assistant: ordering supplies, booking rooms)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://www.biodiversity.uconn.edu/Collections/chp.html Collections Homepage], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://www.biodiversity.uconn.edu/Collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
Most students who arrive in Storrs without a car find that it is very difficult to get around. It's doable for a little while if you live on campus or near a WRTD bus stop, but most students will eventually want to obtain their driver's license and a car. There are limited bike routes around, but Storrs is not exactly the most bike-friendly town, either, although some avid cyclers have made it work.<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ T.F. Green Airport] in Providence, which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride. [http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/Pages/Default.aspx Boston Logan] can sometimes be cheaper to fly from if you can get a ride there or take the bus.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. Our own [http://darwin.eeb.uconn.edu/ Kent Holsinger] is Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost.<br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $1042. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
Dates for the start/end of semester, holidays, registration dates, etc. can be found at the Office of the Registrar's [http://www.registrar.uconn.edu/calendar.htm Academic Calendar].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head, or booking various conference rooms (BioPharm fish bowls, Bamford Room, etc.). See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
===Projectors===<br />
EEB has a number of projectors available. You can reserve these in the third floor EEB office (TLS 314), where you can book the projectors based off of their "color" in a special binder. Ask the student working the office if you need help.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Kuali Financial System System (KFS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a Kuali number, with which purchases can be made. This system was recently implemented to replace the FRS system. More information is available at the [http://kuali.uconn.edu/ Kuali website]. To order supplies, go to [[Kathy Tebo]] with a list of what you want and a KFS #, she will typically find the best deals and order them for you.<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
[https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Homer+Babbidge+Library,+Fairfield+Way,+Storrs,+CT&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&oq=uconn+librar&t=h&hq=Homer+Babbidge+Library,&hnear=Fairfield+Way,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut&z=16 Homer Babbidge Library] is the main library on campus. If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network.<br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)...you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building). <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/proxycom.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/Illustration/Illustrationhome.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhhome.html Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://web.uconn.edu/mnh/bioblitz/ BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are an EEB graduate (doctoral) student can be found [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/45/Grad_Ontogeny.pdf here]<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify. 2000-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 5950 (Masters) or GRAD 6950 (Doctoral) research credigts. Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
=== Important Forms for Graduate Students ===<br />
<br />
'''Doctoral Students'''<br />
<br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/45/Grad_Ontogeny.pdf Graduate Student Ontogeny]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/pos-philosophy.pdf Plan of Study Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/genexamdocdegree.pdf Report on General Exam Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/dissertation_proposal.pdf Dissertation Proposal Coversheet and Instructions]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/tent_app.pdf Dissertation Tentative Approval Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/report_finalexam.pdf Report on the Final Examination Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/disschk010710.pdf Dissertation Submission Checklist]<br />
<br />
Forms for '''Master's Students''' can be found [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. [http://www.peoplesofthelp.uconn.edu/student/st33cs90.html Payroll deduction] can be used to spread the cost of the fee over the cost of the semester. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
=== GSS Short-Term Emergency Loans ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate offers short-term, interest-free emergency loans to a maximum of $1,000.00 to any graduate student who is registered at the Storrs Campus. See more info at their [http://gss.uconn.edu/loans.html website].<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, Botanical Society of America, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium, typically held in March.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA sends representatives to GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== EEB SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ==<br />
<br />
There are a number of departmental social activities throughout the year. The first week of the semester there is a "bar week" in which the department gathers at a different bar for each day of the week. A special GSA committee send emails informing students of the time/location. There is an EEB Barn Dance at Greg Anderson's house every year in October, which all students, faculty, and their families are invited to. This includes a potluck-style dinner, pie contest, pinata, outdoor fire pit, traditional plant people vs animal people tug-of-war contest, hot pepper eating, fireworks, and typically a keg of Long Trail. This is a great opportunity to socialize with both students and faculty.<br />
<br />
There are typically small celebrations after students have passed their qualifying exams or successfully defended their dissertation. Sometimes faculty members will host these parties. Other departmental social activities include an annual Halloween party and post-grad student symposium party, as well as various other birthday/holiday celebrations.<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus, and the [http://www.mansfieldcommunitycenter.org/ Mansfield Community Center] has a gym membership and a number of other fitness programs<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre] shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Thrift Stores ===<br />
Thrift stores can be a great way to save on startup costs when moving to UConn, especially for international students. There is a Good Will in [http://goo.gl/maps/tP5xK Manchester] that has a large selection of clothes, furniture, appliances, and cooking utensils. There are also Salvation Army stores in [http://goo.gl/maps/pLcVV Willimantic] and [http://goo.gl/maps/YLPzl Manchester] with lots of furniture and some other stuff. Coventry has a Flea Market on the weekends, and there are several small stores that re-sell Flea Market stuff on Main Street south of the center of Coventry.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
There are two farmers markets in the area that are quite good. [http://www.storrsfarmersmarket.org/ Storrs Farmers Market] is on Saturday afternoon and is held beside E. O. Smith high school on the south side of campus during the summer, and further south on 195 during the winter. [http://coventryfarmersmarket.com/ Coventry Farmer's Market] is one of the premiere markets in New England and is open on Sundays during the summer.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
====On Campus====<br />
The University offers [http://www.dining.uconn.edu/meal_plans.html meal plan options] for both on- and off-campus meal plans, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. <br />
<br />
There are several [http://www.studentunion.uconn.edu/foodanddining.html food options in the Student Union]: cafeteria-style food, Wendy's, Panda Express, and Dunkin Donuts. You can also get ice cream at the Blue Cow. Cash or meal plans can be used there.<br />
<br />
For coffee or to grab soups and sandwiches for lunch, check out UConn's [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes]. Most members of the department frequent Up & Atom, located in the bottom floor of the Biology/Physics building. The Chem Cafe is just as close if you're in BioPharm, and there are locations in the library and Wilbur Cross.<br />
<br />
There are two restaurants on campus, which tend to be a little pricey, but are good places to take visitors:<br />
* [http://www.chuckandaugies.uconn.edu/ Chuck and Augie's] (located in the Student Union)<br />
* [http://www.nathanhaleinn.com/dining-en.html The Blue Oak and the True Blue Tavern], a restaurant and the only on-campus bar, located at the Nathan Hale Inn.<br />
<br />
There is at least one delicious food truck on campus, [http://lizziescurbside.com/uconn.html Lizzie’s], which you can find on [https://www.google.com/maps?q=Whitney+Rd,+Storrs+Mansfield,+Connecticut+06269,+USA&oi=map Whitney Rd].<br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The [http://gss.uconn.edu/ Graduate Student Senate] sponsors graduate student social events (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. Watch your email for invitations.<br />
<br />
On Tuesdays over the summer, you can [http://www.summerprograms.uconn.edu/tuesdays.html fill a bucket of ice cream] for $2 with a student ID ($3 otherwise). They set up outside the Student Union from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.<br />
<br />
====Off Campus====<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area. Some are within walking distance while others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet) <br />
*Mexican: Chuck & Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Chuck & Margarita’s), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C), Cafemantic (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's, The Farmer's Cow (C)<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C)<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended), Bird Dog Liquors (C)<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. There are also Bank of America ATMs at the [http://goo.gl/bbwo0 Student Union] and at [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross].<br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 Four Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any coin laundries in Storrs, but if you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. Apartment complexes usually have their own laundry facilities.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=26004Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-16T11:43:16Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Local Services */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Kathy Tebo]] (EEB administrative assistant: ordering supplies, booking rooms)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://www.biodiversity.uconn.edu/Collections/chp.html Collections Homepage], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://www.biodiversity.uconn.edu/Collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
Most students who arrive in Storrs without a car find that it is very difficult to get around. It's doable for a little while if you live on campus or near a WRTD bus stop, but most students will eventually want to obtain their driver's license and a car. There are limited bike routes around, but Storrs is not exactly the most bike-friendly town, either, although some avid cyclers have made it work.<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ T.F. Green Airport] in Providence, which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride. [http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/Pages/Default.aspx Boston Logan] can sometimes be cheaper to fly from if you can get a ride there or take the bus.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. Our own [http://darwin.eeb.uconn.edu/ Kent Holsinger] is Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost.<br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $1042. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
Dates for the start/end of semester, holidays, registration dates, etc. can be found at the Office of the Registrar's [http://www.registrar.uconn.edu/calendar.htm Academic Calendar].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head, or booking various conference rooms (BioPharm fish bowls, Bamford Room, etc.). See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
===Projectors===<br />
EEB has a number of projectors available. You can reserve these in the third floor EEB office (TLS 314), where you can book the projectors based off of their "color" in a special binder. Ask the student working the office if you need help.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Kuali Financial System System (KFS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a Kuali number, with which purchases can be made. This system was recently implemented to replace the FRS system. More information is available at the [http://kuali.uconn.edu/ Kuali website]. To order supplies, go to [[Kathy Tebo]] with a list of what you want and a KFS #, she will typically find the best deals and order them for you.<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
[https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Homer+Babbidge+Library,+Fairfield+Way,+Storrs,+CT&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&oq=uconn+librar&t=h&hq=Homer+Babbidge+Library,&hnear=Fairfield+Way,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut&z=16 Homer Babbidge Library] is the main library on campus. If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network.<br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)...you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building). <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/proxycom.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/Illustration/Illustrationhome.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhhome.html Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://web.uconn.edu/mnh/bioblitz/ BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are an EEB graduate (doctoral) student can be found [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/45/Grad_Ontogeny.pdf here]<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify. 2000-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 5950 (Masters) or GRAD 6950 (Doctoral) research credigts. Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
=== Important Forms for Graduate Students ===<br />
<br />
'''Doctoral Students'''<br />
<br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/45/Grad_Ontogeny.pdf Graduate Student Ontogeny]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/pos-philosophy.pdf Plan of Study Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/genexamdocdegree.pdf Report on General Exam Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/dissertation_proposal.pdf Dissertation Proposal Coversheet and Instructions]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/tent_app.pdf Dissertation Tentative Approval Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/report_finalexam.pdf Report on the Final Examination Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/disschk010710.pdf Dissertation Submission Checklist]<br />
<br />
Forms for '''Master's Students''' can be found [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. [http://www.peoplesofthelp.uconn.edu/student/st33cs90.html Payroll deduction] can be used to spread the cost of the fee over the cost of the semester. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
=== GSS Short-Term Emergency Loans ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate offers short-term, interest-free emergency loans to a maximum of $1,000.00 to any graduate student who is registered at the Storrs Campus. See more info at their [http://gss.uconn.edu/loans.html website].<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, Botanical Society of America, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium, typically held in March.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA sends representatives to GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== EEB SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ==<br />
<br />
There are a number of departmental social activities throughout the year. The first week of the semester there is a "bar week" in which the department gathers at a different bar for each day of the week. A special GSA committee send emails informing students of the time/location. There is an EEB Barn Dance at Greg Anderson's house every year in October, which all students, faculty, and their families are invited to. This includes a potluck-style dinner, pie contest, pinata, outdoor fire pit, traditional plant people vs animal people tug-of-war contest, hot pepper eating, fireworks, and typically a keg of Long Trail. This is a great opportunity to socialize with both students and faculty.<br />
<br />
There are typically small celebrations after students have passed their qualifying exams or successfully defended their dissertation. Sometimes faculty members will host these parties. Other departmental social activities include an annual Halloween party and post-grad student symposium party, as well as various other birthday/holiday celebrations.<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus, and the [http://www.mansfieldcommunitycenter.org/ Mansfield Community Center] has a gym membership and a number of other fitness programs<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre] shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Thrift Stores ===<br />
Thrift stores can be a great way to save on startup costs when moving to UConn, especially for international students. There is a Good Will in [http://goo.gl/maps/tP5xK Manchester] that has a large selection of clothes, furniture, appliances, and cooking utensils. There are also Salvation Army stores in [http://goo.gl/maps/pLcVV Willimantic] and [http://goo.gl/maps/YLPzl Manchester] with lots of furniture and some other stuff. Coventry has a Flea Market on the weekends, and there are several small stores that re-sell Flea Market stuff on Main Street south of the center of Coventry.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
There are two farmers markets in the area that are quite good. [http://www.storrsfarmersmarket.org/ Storrs Farmers Market] is on Saturday afternoon and is held beside E. O. Smith high school on the south side of campus during the summer, and further south on 195 during the winter. [http://coventryfarmersmarket.com/ Coventry Farmer's Market] is one of the premiere markets in New England and is open on Sundays during the summer.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C), Cafemantic (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended), Bird Dog Liquors (C)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. There are also Bank of America ATMs at the [http://goo.gl/bbwo0 Student Union] and at [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross].<br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 Four Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
There are no longer any coin laundries in Storrs, but if you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. Apartment complexes usually have their own laundry facilities.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=26003Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-16T11:31:22Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Airport */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Kathy Tebo]] (EEB administrative assistant: ordering supplies, booking rooms)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://www.biodiversity.uconn.edu/Collections/chp.html Collections Homepage], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://www.biodiversity.uconn.edu/Collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
Most students who arrive in Storrs without a car find that it is very difficult to get around. It's doable for a little while if you live on campus or near a WRTD bus stop, but most students will eventually want to obtain their driver's license and a car. There are limited bike routes around, but Storrs is not exactly the most bike-friendly town, either, although some avid cyclers have made it work.<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ T.F. Green Airport] in Providence, which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride. [http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/Pages/Default.aspx Boston Logan] can sometimes be cheaper to fly from if you can get a ride there or take the bus.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. Our own [http://darwin.eeb.uconn.edu/ Kent Holsinger] is Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost.<br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $1042. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
Dates for the start/end of semester, holidays, registration dates, etc. can be found at the Office of the Registrar's [http://www.registrar.uconn.edu/calendar.htm Academic Calendar].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head, or booking various conference rooms (BioPharm fish bowls, Bamford Room, etc.). See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
===Projectors===<br />
EEB has a number of projectors available. You can reserve these in the third floor EEB office (TLS 314), where you can book the projectors based off of their "color" in a special binder. Ask the student working the office if you need help.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Kuali Financial System System (KFS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a Kuali number, with which purchases can be made. This system was recently implemented to replace the FRS system. More information is available at the [http://kuali.uconn.edu/ Kuali website]. To order supplies, go to [[Kathy Tebo]] with a list of what you want and a KFS #, she will typically find the best deals and order them for you.<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
[https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Homer+Babbidge+Library,+Fairfield+Way,+Storrs,+CT&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&oq=uconn+librar&t=h&hq=Homer+Babbidge+Library,&hnear=Fairfield+Way,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut&z=16 Homer Babbidge Library] is the main library on campus. If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network.<br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)...you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building). <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/proxycom.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/Illustration/Illustrationhome.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhhome.html Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://web.uconn.edu/mnh/bioblitz/ BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are an EEB graduate (doctoral) student can be found [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/45/Grad_Ontogeny.pdf here]<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify. 2000-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 5950 (Masters) or GRAD 6950 (Doctoral) research credigts. Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
=== Important Forms for Graduate Students ===<br />
<br />
'''Doctoral Students'''<br />
<br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/4/45/Grad_Ontogeny.pdf Graduate Student Ontogeny]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/pos-philosophy.pdf Plan of Study Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/genexamdocdegree.pdf Report on General Exam Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/dissertation_proposal.pdf Dissertation Proposal Coversheet and Instructions]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/tent_app.pdf Dissertation Tentative Approval Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/report_finalexam.pdf Report on the Final Examination Form]<br />
* [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/doc/disschk010710.pdf Dissertation Submission Checklist]<br />
<br />
Forms for '''Master's Students''' can be found [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. [http://www.peoplesofthelp.uconn.edu/student/st33cs90.html Payroll deduction] can be used to spread the cost of the fee over the cost of the semester. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
=== GSS Short-Term Emergency Loans ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate offers short-term, interest-free emergency loans to a maximum of $1,000.00 to any graduate student who is registered at the Storrs Campus. See more info at their [http://gss.uconn.edu/loans.html website].<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, Botanical Society of America, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium, typically held in March.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA sends representatives to GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== EEB SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ==<br />
<br />
There are a number of departmental social activities throughout the year. The first week of the semester there is a "bar week" in which the department gathers at a different bar for each day of the week. A special GSA committee send emails informing students of the time/location. There is an EEB Barn Dance at Greg Anderson's house every year in October, which all students, faculty, and their families are invited to. This includes a potluck-style dinner, pie contest, pinata, outdoor fire pit, traditional plant people vs animal people tug-of-war contest, hot pepper eating, fireworks, and typically a keg of Long Trail. This is a great opportunity to socialize with both students and faculty.<br />
<br />
There are typically small celebrations after students have passed their qualifying exams or successfully defended their dissertation. Sometimes faculty members will host these parties. Other departmental social activities include an annual Halloween party and post-grad student symposium party, as well as various other birthday/holiday celebrations.<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus, and the [http://www.mansfieldcommunitycenter.org/ Mansfield Community Center] has a gym membership and a number of other fitness programs<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre] shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Thrift Stores ===<br />
Thrift stores can be a great way to save on startup costs when moving to UConn, especially for international students. There is a Good Will in [http://goo.gl/maps/tP5xK Manchester] that has a large selection of clothes, furniture, appliances, and cooking utensils. There are also Salvation Army stores in [http://goo.gl/maps/pLcVV Willimantic] and [http://goo.gl/maps/YLPzl Manchester] with lots of furniture and some other stuff. Coventry has a Flea Market on the weekends, and there are several small stores that re-sell Flea Market stuff on Main Street south of the center of Coventry.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
There are two farmers markets in the area that are quite good. [http://www.storrsfarmersmarket.org/ Storrs Farmers Market] is on Saturday afternoon and is held beside E. O. Smith high school on the south side of campus during the summer, and further south on 195 during the winter. [http://coventryfarmersmarket.com/ Coventry Farmer's Market] is one of the premiere markets in New England and is open on Sundays during the summer.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C), Cafemantic (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended), Bird Dog Liquors (C)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union.<br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 Four Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25944Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:30:43Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
Most students who arrive in Storrs without a car find that it is very difficult to get around. It's doable for a little while if you live on campus or near a WRTD bus stop, but most students will eventually want to obtain their driver's license and a car. There are limited bike routes around, but Storrs is not exactly the most bike-friendly town, either, although some avid cyclers have made it work.<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are a graduate student can be found at the following link: [[file:Grad_Ontogeny.pdf]].<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. [http://www.peoplesofthelp.uconn.edu/student/st33cs90.html Payroll deduction] can be used to spread the cost of the fee over the cost of the semester. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
=== GSS Short-Term Emergency Loans ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate offers short-term, interest-free emergency loans to a maximum of $1,000.00 to any graduate student who is registered at the Storrs Campus. See more info at their [http://gss.uconn.edu/loans.html website].<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA sends representatives to GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== EEB SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ==<br />
<br />
There are a number of departmental social activities throughout the year. The first week of the semester there is a "bar week" in which the department gathers at a different bar for each day of the week. A special GSA committee send emails informing students of the time/location. There is an EEB Barn Dance at Greg Anderson's house every year in October, which all students, faculty, and their families are invited to. This includes a potluck-style dinner, pie contest, pinata, outdoor fire pit, traditional plant people vs animal people tug-of-war contest, hot pepper eating, fireworks, and typically a keg of Long Trail. This is a great opportunity to socialize with both students and faculty.<br />
<br />
There are typically small celebrations after students have passed their qualifying exams or successfully defended their dissertation. Sometimes faculty members will host these parties. Other departmental social activities include an annual Halloween party and post-grad student symposim party, as well as various other birthday/holiday celebrations.<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus.<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Thrift Stores ===<br />
Thrift stores can be a great way to save on startup costs when moving to UConn, especially for international students. There is a Good Will in [http://goo.gl/maps/tP5xK Manchester] that has a large selection of clothes, furniture, appliances, and cooking utensils. There is also a Salvation Army in [http://goo.gl/maps/YLPzl Manchester] with lots of furniture and some other stuff. Coventry has a Flee Market on the weekends, and there are several small stores that re-sell Flee Market stuff on Main Street south of the center of Coventry.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25943Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:29:39Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* MONEY */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
Most students who arrive in Storrs without a car find that it is very difficult to get around. It's doable for a little while if you live on campus or near a WRTD bus stop, but most students will eventually want to obtain their driver's license and a car. There are limited bike routes around, but Storrs is not exactly the most bike-friendly town, either, although some avid cyclers have made it work.<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are a graduate student can be found at the following link: [[file:Grad_Ontogeny.pdf]].<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. [http://www.peoplesofthelp.uconn.edu/student/st33cs90.html Payroll deduction] can be used to spread the cost of the fee over the cost of the semester. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
=== GSS Short-Term Emergency Loans ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate offers short-term, interest-free emergency loans to a maximum of $1,000.00 to any graduate student who is registered at the Storrs Campus. See more info at their [http://gss.uconn.edu/loans.html website].<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== EEB SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ==<br />
<br />
There are a number of departmental social activities throughout the year. The first week of the semester there is a "bar week" in which the department gathers at a different bar for each day of the week. A special GSA committee send emails informing students of the time/location. There is an EEB Barn Dance at Greg Anderson's house every year in October, which all students, faculty, and their families are invited to. This includes a potluck-style dinner, pie contest, pinata, outdoor fire pit, traditional plant people vs animal people tug-of-war contest, hot pepper eating, fireworks, and typically a keg of Long Trail. This is a great opportunity to socialize with both students and faculty.<br />
<br />
There are typically small celebrations after students have passed their qualifying exams or successfully defended their dissertation. Sometimes faculty members will host these parties. Other departmental social activities include an annual Halloween party and post-grad student symposim party, as well as various other birthday/holiday celebrations.<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus.<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Thrift Stores ===<br />
Thrift stores can be a great way to save on startup costs when moving to UConn, especially for international students. There is a Good Will in [http://goo.gl/maps/tP5xK Manchester] that has a large selection of clothes, furniture, appliances, and cooking utensils. There is also a Salvation Army in [http://goo.gl/maps/YLPzl Manchester] with lots of furniture and some other stuff. Coventry has a Flee Market on the weekends, and there are several small stores that re-sell Flee Market stuff on Main Street south of the center of Coventry.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25940Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:25:48Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Registration Fees */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
Most students who arrive in Storrs without a car find that it is very difficult to get around. It's doable for a little while if you live on campus or near a WRTD bus stop, but most students will eventually want to obtain their driver's license and a car. There are limited bike routes around, but Storrs is not exactly the most bike-friendly town, either, although some avid cyclers have made it work.<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are a graduate student can be found at the following link: [[file:Grad_Ontogeny.pdf]].<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. [http://www.peoplesofthelp.uconn.edu/student/st33cs90.html Payroll deduction] can be used to spread the cost of the fee over the cost of the semester. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== EEB SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ==<br />
<br />
There are a number of departmental social activities throughout the year. The first week of the semester there is a "bar week" in which the department gathers at a different bar for each day of the week. A special GSA committee send emails informing students of the time/location. There is an EEB Barn Dance at Greg Anderson's house every year in October, which all students, faculty, and their families are invited to. This includes a potluck-style dinner, pie contest, pinata, outdoor fire pit, traditional plant people vs animal people tug-of-war contest, hot pepper eating, fireworks, and typically a keg of Long Trail. This is a great opportunity to socialize with both students and faculty.<br />
<br />
There are typically small celebrations after students have passed their qualifying exams or successfully defended their dissertation. Sometimes faculty members will host these parties. Other departmental social activities include an annual Halloween party and post-grad student symposim party, as well as various other birthday/holiday celebrations.<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus.<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25933Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:19:50Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* TRANSPORTATION */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
Most students who arrive in Storrs without a car find that it is very difficult to get around. It's doable for a little while if you live on campus or near a WRTD bus stop, but most students will eventually want to obtain their driver's license and a car. There are limited bike routes around, but Storrs is not exactly the most bike-friendly town, either, although some avid cyclers have made it work.<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are a graduate student can be found here.<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus.<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25929Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:16:42Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* STUDENT I.D. */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
If your office is in BioPharm, then you can get an ID card that will be keyed to the building doors (instead of needing a separate keycard). For more info, talk to Skip Copeland (francis.copeland@uconn.edu), whose office is near the loading dock of BioPharm.<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $110) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
The graduate student ontogeny, which describes what you should do and when while you are a graduate student can be found [[File:GSOntogeny.pdf]]<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus.<br />
<br />
=== Hiking and Camping ===<br />
There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust]. There are several state parks in the area [http://www.depdata.ct.gov/maps/parksforests/parksmap.htm map]. The Town of Mansfield website maintains a list of [http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/2861/7518/8196/8686.aspx town parks and preserves]. UConn also owns a lot of forested land, some maps are available [http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/trailmarking.htm here]. The Appalachian trail runs through Western Connecticut as well.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25918Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:06:43Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* TRANSPORTATION */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus. There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust].<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25917Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:06:21Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Buses to Other Cities */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== Public Transportation ===<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
=== Buses to Other Cities ===<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus. There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust].<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25916Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:06:01Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* WRTD Buses */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== Public Transportation ===<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
=== WRTD Buses ===<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
== Buses to Other Cities ==<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus. There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust].<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25915Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:05:47Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* UConn Buses */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== Public Transportation ===<br />
<br />
=== UConn Buses ===<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
== WRTD Buses ==<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
== Buses to Other Cities ==<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 1102 is four sections with a partner (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 1107, 1108 and 1110 it is two sections alone (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 1107, 1108 or 1110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus. There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust].<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include Bank of America and First Niagara (on Rt 44 across from Red Rock Cafe), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (860-486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is also a Bank of America ATM at the Student Union, <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. Cumberland Farms is open 24 hours.<br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25912Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T23:02:52Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Transportation */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== Public Transportation ===<br />
<br />
== UConn Buses ==<br />
<br />
There are several UConn bus lines. Routes and times can be checked at the [http://transpo.uconn.edu/ Transportation Services site]. They are also [https://www.facebook.com/uconntranspo on facebook]. There is also a mobile app. The Red lines and Blue lines can be taken to get to and from W lot. All buses are free with a UConn ID.<br />
<br />
UConn Transportation also provides an [http://transpo.uconn.edu/#avs Accessible Van Service] for passengers with disabilities. [http://www.police.uconn.edu/huskywatch.html HuskyWatch] is a service provided by UConn police for those who would like assistance walking across campus, or if you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night. Call 860-377-8091.<br />
<br />
== WRTD Buses ==<br />
<br />
[http://www.wrtd.net/ Windham Regional Transit District] offers several area bus lines. The [http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus.html Storrs-Willimantic bus] can be used to commute between Willimantic, parts of Mansfield, and campus, and this line is free with a UConn ID (though note that if you ride at certain times you will have to transfer to a Willimantic City Bus, which you will have to pay the fare for). All other buses have a fare of somewhere around $1.<br />
<br />
== Buses to Other Cities ==<br />
<br />
[http://us.megabus.com/ Megabus] offers service from Storrs to Hartford and New York twice a day. From Hartford you can also take Megabus to Boston or other cities. Megabus fares range from $1-$45, depending on how far ahead of time you purchase them. Other bus options are [http://peterpanbus.com/ Peter Pan Bus] or [https://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound] (which are actually the same bus) with service from Storrs to Hartford once per day.<br />
<br />
=== Airport ===<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is [http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/ Bradley International Airport] in Hartford, about 45 minutes away from Storrs. Another option is the [http://www.pvdairport.com/ Providence Airport], which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. There are no easy or convenient ways to get to the airport if you don't have a car; the best thing to do is ask a friend or someone from the department for a ride.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). Seminar snacks are typically held at 3:30 before the seminar in the Bamford Room. Tuesday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern, also held on Thursdays at the [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=dodd+center+uconn&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.313287,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Thomas+J.+Dodd+Research+Center,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16 Dodd Center].<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 1102, 1107, 1108, or 1110). 1102 is the non-Majors course. 1107, 1108 and 1110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 1107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 1108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 1110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $1500) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority. Applications are typically due in mid-March, and notifications sent in mid-late April.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://global.uconn.edu/about/immigration-services International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments, so that they can provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with. It is also important to make sure you have all the required vaccinations before you arrive. All the required information can be obtained through [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/ Student Health Services]. If you are interested in renting an apartment near campus, it is a good idea to email a current Graduate student, who can send an email out to the Departmental listserve. There are often other students who are looking for roommates. Popular places to stay are in Storrs itself, Willimantic, and Mansfield.<br />
As you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance. These are very useful, and will make your life much easier.<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. Public transport in the area is fairly sparse, and so a car is extremely useful. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks, or not have to carry your passport around. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in [http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=808&q=244618 Willimantic]. There is a week-long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.itap.uconn.edu ITAP] web site. Students who do not have English as a first language will have to take a proficiency exam. <br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out and an emissions test done, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. via [http://recreation.uconn.edu/outdoors/ UConn Outdoors]. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, spinning, etc.) are available through [http://recreation.uconn.edu/bodywise/ Bodywise], you just have to register in advance on their website. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus. There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust].<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The [http://www.subog.uconn.edu/theatre.php Student Union Theatre]shows movies, $2 with an I.D. and $4 without on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while Fridays are now free. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Groceries ===<br />
<br />
If you plant to cook, most people get their groceries at [www.bigy.com Big Y] or [www.stopandshop.com Stop and Shop]. There is a Big Y in [http://goo.gl/maps/eL9jn Tolland] and another in [http://goo.gl/maps/qjSK3 Mansfield] near Willimantic and the Eastbrook Mall. Big Y tends to be on the pricy side but also is good quality. Stop and Shop is slightly cheaper and also has a deeply discounted dented cans area and day-old racks for bread and vegetables which are still quite useable. There is a Stop in Shop in [http://goo.gl/maps/4j3um Willimantic] and also in [http://goo.gl/maps/XQvvB Vernon]. There is also [http://goo.gl/maps/isPwd Highland Park Market] in Coventry and a Walmart in [http://goo.gl/maps/AMuF7 Windham].<br />
<br />
You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] in Willimantic, [http://goo.gl/maps/sJIZh Champlion’s General Store] on South Eagleville Rd. near Coventry or at [http://goo.gl/maps/jSt16 The Healthy Alternative] on Rt 44 near campus. Champlions and The Healthy Alternative have minimal fresh foods and The Healthy Alternative has no bulk goods.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean), Dog Lane Cafe<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni, Wooster St., Willington Pizza (C)<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: [http://www.uccafes.uconn.edu/ Uniquely Caffeinated Cafes] (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts (student union and elsewhere on campus and off)<br />
*Asian: Chang’s Garden, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus), Panda Express (student union)<br />
*Indian: Wings Express (they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Coyote Flaco (C, near Coventry), Baja Cafe<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C), Red Rock Cafe (C), Yukon Jack's (C), Bidwell Tavern (C)<br />
*Desserts: UConn Dairy Bar, FroyoWorld, Insomnia Cookies, Gino's<br />
*Bars: Ted's, Pub32 (C, $3 pints after 7pm on Thursdays!), Husky's, Willibrew (C), Nathan Hale Inn<br />
*Liquor stores: Sam's (not great), Villa Spirit Shoppe (recommended)<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There are a lot of them listed on [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp], or ask your fellow students. <br />
<br />
EEB has departmental coffee on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9am in the Collections Library. Bob Capers typically sends out a reminder email for this.<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors graduate student parties (with free or discounted food and drink) as well. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (on Rte 44, also ATM at the student union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
There is a CVS at [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+and+195+storrs+ct&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.01411,2.705383&t=h&hnear=U.S.+44+%26+Connecticut+195,+Mansfield,+Tolland,+Connecticut+06268&z=16 4 Corners], as well as 2 decent gas stations (Cumberland Farms, Shell), as well as Dick's Auto Care. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25892Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T22:15:46Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* UCONN TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
<br />
== TRANSPORTATION ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== Transportation ===<br />
<br />
The University provides an escort service (486-4809) for people who need assistance crossing campus during the day and for people who don’t want to walk across campus at night. A campus shuttle bus also helps transport students from one end of the campus to the other, operating during library hours. The campus shuttle also services some of the nearby apartment complexes (call 486-1448 for information). The WRTD bus runs from Holiday Mall, past campus, to Willimantic. In addition to the regular day service, the University runs a bus on the same route twice each night. WRTD buses are equipped with bike racks (but the University buses, including the night buses to Willimantic, are not), so you can ride from home to the nearest bus stop. You should check the Transportation services website for the most up-to-date information on routes and timing or call (456-2223 or 486-5013). Many buses are free provided you have a valid student I.D.<br />
<br />
From Storrs, you can catch a bus to downtown Hartford; call Arrow Lines (1-800-243-9560) for more information. Call the Rt 66 Quickmart (456-0440) in Willimantic for Main Street, Willimantic departures on Bonanza Lines buses to Boston, Providence, Hartford, or New York. Some of these buses also depart from campus.<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is Bradley International (also called Hartford-Springfield or Windsor Locks), although Providence is not much farther. Most people try to get a friend to drive them. Horizon Airport Shuttle carries passengers to and from the airport by reservation for $58 one way. For more information, call 860-429-8002.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held from 4 to 5. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). On occasion, a reception with refreshments will be held after the seminar. Monday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Additionally, in the spring of 2004, UConn’s EEB graduate students hosted the second Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (NEEC). This conference has been modeled after the Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) and will likely be held in other northeastern schools in the years to come. Much like the annual Graduate Student Symposium, NEEC encourages talks and posters on ongoing research, previous research and ideas for research projects. Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 102, 107, 108, or 110). 102 is the non-Majors course. 107, 108 and 110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $250) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://www.ia.uconn.edu/ International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments so they might provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with.<br />
<br />
If you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance.<br />
<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other most important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in Norwich. There is a week- long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu ITAP web site].<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, etc.) are offered every semester for a reasonable price. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus. There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust].<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The Student Union shows free mainstream movies every Sunday night during the semester, and every Wednesday night during the summer. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean)<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: Holiday Cafe (C, four corners), Java Joint (on campus: Co-op and Business bldg), Origins (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks <br />
*Bagel shops: Java Joint, Origins <br />
*Chinese: Chang’s Garden, Tin Tsin II, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus) <br />
*Indian: Wings Express (above Tin Tsin, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Cayote Flaco (C, near Coventry)<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C).<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There is a student reviewed restauraunt listing at the [http://uconn.dailyjolt.com/food Daily Jolt] and growing review site at [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp] <br />
<br />
Coffee clubs/hours are run by several groups on campus: The International Student House – (check the Daily Campus for information), Graduate Student Association (announcements go out on UConn grad listserv). There are three bars within walking distance of campus: Ted’s, Huskies, and Civic Pub. Further away from campus (requiring a designated driver), you can visit the Bidwell Tavern (in Coventry), Margarita’s (on route 32, midway between routes 44 and 195), Schmedley’s (in Eagleville, no longer open and a new pub is coming), Willimantic Brew Pub and the Main St. Cafe (on Main St. in Willimantic).<br />
<br />
If you plan to cook and you don’t want to venture too far from campus you can buy your groceries at the Grand Union (Route 44, near Route 195). However, their prices tend to be slightly inflated. Willimantic has a number of large supermarkets (Super Stop ‘n Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, and Super Walmart). You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] (ask around for directions) or Champlion’s General Store (South Eagleville Road toward Coventry, across Route 32 and on the corner) or at Wild Scallions on route 44 near Grand Union (no bulk goods).<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors 3 graduate student parties (with free food and drink) per semester. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (located near Grand Union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25891Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T22:15:23Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: transportation--reorganize</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in the [http://goo.gl/maps/5DC7T Wilbur Cross Building]. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross. For more info on Student ID cards, including what to do if you lose yours, see [http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/ www.onecard.uconn.edu]<br />
<br />
<br />
== UCONN TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
=== Transportation ===<br />
<br />
The University provides an escort service (486-4809) for people who need assistance crossing campus during the day and for people who don’t want to walk across campus at night. A campus shuttle bus also helps transport students from one end of the campus to the other, operating during library hours. The campus shuttle also services some of the nearby apartment complexes (call 486-1448 for information). The WRTD bus runs from Holiday Mall, past campus, to Willimantic. In addition to the regular day service, the University runs a bus on the same route twice each night. WRTD buses are equipped with bike racks (but the University buses, including the night buses to Willimantic, are not), so you can ride from home to the nearest bus stop. You should check the Transportation services website for the most up-to-date information on routes and timing or call (456-2223 or 486-5013). Many buses are free provided you have a valid student I.D.<br />
<br />
From Storrs, you can catch a bus to downtown Hartford; call Arrow Lines (1-800-243-9560) for more information. Call the Rt 66 Quickmart (456-0440) in Willimantic for Main Street, Willimantic departures on Bonanza Lines buses to Boston, Providence, Hartford, or New York. Some of these buses also depart from campus.<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is Bradley International (also called Hartford-Springfield or Windsor Locks), although Providence is not much farther. Most people try to get a friend to drive them. Horizon Airport Shuttle carries passengers to and from the airport by reservation for $58 one way. For more information, call 860-429-8002.<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held from 4 to 5. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). On occasion, a reception with refreshments will be held after the seminar. Monday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Additionally, in the spring of 2004, UConn’s EEB graduate students hosted the second Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (NEEC). This conference has been modeled after the Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) and will likely be held in other northeastern schools in the years to come. Much like the annual Graduate Student Symposium, NEEC encourages talks and posters on ongoing research, previous research and ideas for research projects. Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 102, 107, 108, or 110). 102 is the non-Majors course. 107, 108 and 110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $250) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://www.ia.uconn.edu/ International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments so they might provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with.<br />
<br />
If you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance.<br />
<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other most important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in Norwich. There is a week- long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu ITAP web site].<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hugh+s+greer+fieldhouse&hl=en&sll=41.806861,-72.254398&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&z=17 located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, rock-climbing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, etc.) are offered every semester for a reasonable price. The track is located behind the student rec facility. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department. There is also a [http://crossfitstorrs.com/ Crossfit Storrs] only a few miles from campus. There are plenty of good trails for running, hiking, and cross-country skiiing, including: ([http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325236 Mansfield Hollow], the [http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm Nipmuck Trail], and a number of parks that are part of [http://www.joshuaslandtrust.org/ Joshua's Trust].<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The Student Union shows free mainstream movies every Sunday night during the semester, and every Wednesday night during the summer. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean)<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: Holiday Cafe (C, four corners), Java Joint (on campus: Co-op and Business bldg), Origins (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks <br />
*Bagel shops: Java Joint, Origins <br />
*Chinese: Chang’s Garden, Tin Tsin II, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus) <br />
*Indian: Wings Express (above Tin Tsin, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Cayote Flaco (C, near Coventry)<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C).<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There is a student reviewed restauraunt listing at the [http://uconn.dailyjolt.com/food Daily Jolt] and growing review site at [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp] <br />
<br />
Coffee clubs/hours are run by several groups on campus: The International Student House – (check the Daily Campus for information), Graduate Student Association (announcements go out on UConn grad listserv). There are three bars within walking distance of campus: Ted’s, Huskies, and Civic Pub. Further away from campus (requiring a designated driver), you can visit the Bidwell Tavern (in Coventry), Margarita’s (on route 32, midway between routes 44 and 195), Schmedley’s (in Eagleville, no longer open and a new pub is coming), Willimantic Brew Pub and the Main St. Cafe (on Main St. in Willimantic).<br />
<br />
If you plan to cook and you don’t want to venture too far from campus you can buy your groceries at the Grand Union (Route 44, near Route 195). However, their prices tend to be slightly inflated. Willimantic has a number of large supermarkets (Super Stop ‘n Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, and Super Walmart). You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] (ask around for directions) or Champlion’s General Store (South Eagleville Road toward Coventry, across Route 32 and on the corner) or at Wild Scallions on route 44 near Grand Union (no bulk goods).<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors 3 graduate student parties (with free food and drink) per semester. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (located near Grand Union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25886Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T22:08:05Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* HEALTH BENEFITS */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in Wilbur Cross. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross.<br />
<br />
<br />
== UCONN TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held from 4 to 5. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). On occasion, a reception with refreshments will be held after the seminar. Monday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Additionally, in the spring of 2004, UConn’s EEB graduate students hosted the second Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (NEEC). This conference has been modeled after the Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) and will likely be held in other northeastern schools in the years to come. Much like the annual Graduate Student Symposium, NEEC encourages talks and posters on ongoing research, previous research and ideas for research projects. Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 102, 107, 108, or 110). 102 is the non-Majors course. 107, 108 and 110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $250) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://www.ia.uconn.edu/ International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments so they might provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with.<br />
<br />
If you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance.<br />
<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other most important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in Norwich. There is a week- long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu ITAP web site].<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ student recreation facility] is [http://web.uconn.edu/recreation/ located] next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, etc.) are offered every semester for a reasonable price. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The Student Union shows free mainstream movies every Sunday night during the semester, and every Wednesday night during the summer. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean)<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: Holiday Cafe (C, four corners), Java Joint (on campus: Co-op and Business bldg), Origins (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks <br />
*Bagel shops: Java Joint, Origins <br />
*Chinese: Chang’s Garden, Tin Tsin II, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus) <br />
*Indian: Wings Express (above Tin Tsin, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Cayote Flaco (C, near Coventry)<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C).<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There is a student reviewed restauraunt listing at the [http://uconn.dailyjolt.com/food Daily Jolt] and growing review site at [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp] <br />
<br />
Coffee clubs/hours are run by several groups on campus: The International Student House – (check the Daily Campus for information), Graduate Student Association (announcements go out on UConn grad listserv). There are three bars within walking distance of campus: Ted’s, Huskies, and Civic Pub. Further away from campus (requiring a designated driver), you can visit the Bidwell Tavern (in Coventry), Margarita’s (on route 32, midway between routes 44 and 195), Schmedley’s (in Eagleville, no longer open and a new pub is coming), Willimantic Brew Pub and the Main St. Cafe (on Main St. in Willimantic).<br />
<br />
If you plan to cook and you don’t want to venture too far from campus you can buy your groceries at the Grand Union (Route 44, near Route 195). However, their prices tend to be slightly inflated. Willimantic has a number of large supermarkets (Super Stop ‘n Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, and Super Walmart). You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] (ask around for directions) or Champlion’s General Store (South Eagleville Road toward Coventry, across Route 32 and on the corner) or at Wild Scallions on route 44 near Grand Union (no bulk goods).<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors 3 graduate student parties (with free food and drink) per semester. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Transportation ===<br />
<br />
The University provides an escort service (486-4809) for people who need assistance crossing campus during the day and for people who don’t want to walk across campus at night. A campus shuttle bus also helps transport students from one end of the campus to the other, operating during library hours. The campus shuttle also services some of the nearby apartment complexes (call 486-1448 for information). The WRTD bus runs from Holiday Mall, past campus, to Willimantic. In addition to the regular day service, the University runs a bus on the same route twice each night. WRTD buses are equipped with bike racks (but the University buses, including the night buses to Willimantic, are not), so you can ride from home to the nearest bus stop. You should check the Transportation services website for the most up-to-date information on routes and timing or call (456-2223 or 486-5013). Many buses are free provided you have a valid student I.D.<br />
<br />
From Storrs, you can catch a bus to downtown Hartford; call Arrow Lines (1-800-243-9560) for more information. Call the Rt 66 Quickmart (456-0440) in Willimantic for Main Street, Willimantic departures on Bonanza Lines buses to Boston, Providence, Hartford, or New York. Some of these buses also depart from campus.<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is Bradley International (also called Hartford-Springfield or Windsor Locks), although Providence is not much farther. Most people try to get a friend to drive them. Horizon Airport Shuttle carries passengers to and from the airport by reservation for $58 one way. For more information, call 860-429-8002.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (located near Grand Union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25884Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T22:07:51Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* HEALTH BENEFITS */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in Wilbur Cross. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross.<br />
<br />
<br />
== UCONN TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held from 4 to 5. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). On occasion, a reception with refreshments will be held after the seminar. Monday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Additionally, in the spring of 2004, UConn’s EEB graduate students hosted the second Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (NEEC). This conference has been modeled after the Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) and will likely be held in other northeastern schools in the years to come. Much like the annual Graduate Student Symposium, NEEC encourages talks and posters on ongoing research, previous research and ideas for research projects. Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 102, 107, 108, or 110). 102 is the non-Majors course. 107, 108 and 110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $1042 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and fees for the Graduate Student Senate. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $250) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the ["http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://www.ia.uconn.edu/ International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments so they might provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with.<br />
<br />
If you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance.<br />
<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other most important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in Norwich. There is a week- long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu ITAP web site].<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=student+recreation+facility&hl=en&ll=41.806589,-72.255385&spn=0.007885,0.021136&sll=41.806677,-72.254677&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&hnear=Student+Recreation+Facility,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16&iwloc=A student recreation facility] is next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, etc.) are offered every semester for a reasonable price. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The Student Union shows free mainstream movies every Sunday night during the semester, and every Wednesday night during the summer. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean)<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: Holiday Cafe (C, four corners), Java Joint (on campus: Co-op and Business bldg), Origins (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks <br />
*Bagel shops: Java Joint, Origins <br />
*Chinese: Chang’s Garden, Tin Tsin II, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus) <br />
*Indian: Wings Express (above Tin Tsin, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Cayote Flaco (C, near Coventry)<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C).<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There is a student reviewed restauraunt listing at the [http://uconn.dailyjolt.com/food Daily Jolt] and growing review site at [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp] <br />
<br />
Coffee clubs/hours are run by several groups on campus: The International Student House – (check the Daily Campus for information), Graduate Student Association (announcements go out on UConn grad listserv). There are three bars within walking distance of campus: Ted’s, Huskies, and Civic Pub. Further away from campus (requiring a designated driver), you can visit the Bidwell Tavern (in Coventry), Margarita’s (on route 32, midway between routes 44 and 195), Schmedley’s (in Eagleville, no longer open and a new pub is coming), Willimantic Brew Pub and the Main St. Cafe (on Main St. in Willimantic).<br />
<br />
If you plan to cook and you don’t want to venture too far from campus you can buy your groceries at the Grand Union (Route 44, near Route 195). However, their prices tend to be slightly inflated. Willimantic has a number of large supermarkets (Super Stop ‘n Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, and Super Walmart). You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] (ask around for directions) or Champlion’s General Store (South Eagleville Road toward Coventry, across Route 32 and on the corner) or at Wild Scallions on route 44 near Grand Union (no bulk goods).<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors 3 graduate student parties (with free food and drink) per semester. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Transportation ===<br />
<br />
The University provides an escort service (486-4809) for people who need assistance crossing campus during the day and for people who don’t want to walk across campus at night. A campus shuttle bus also helps transport students from one end of the campus to the other, operating during library hours. The campus shuttle also services some of the nearby apartment complexes (call 486-1448 for information). The WRTD bus runs from Holiday Mall, past campus, to Willimantic. In addition to the regular day service, the University runs a bus on the same route twice each night. WRTD buses are equipped with bike racks (but the University buses, including the night buses to Willimantic, are not), so you can ride from home to the nearest bus stop. You should check the Transportation services website for the most up-to-date information on routes and timing or call (456-2223 or 486-5013). Many buses are free provided you have a valid student I.D.<br />
<br />
From Storrs, you can catch a bus to downtown Hartford; call Arrow Lines (1-800-243-9560) for more information. Call the Rt 66 Quickmart (456-0440) in Willimantic for Main Street, Willimantic departures on Bonanza Lines buses to Boston, Providence, Hartford, or New York. Some of these buses also depart from campus.<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is Bradley International (also called Hartford-Springfield or Windsor Locks), although Providence is not much farther. Most people try to get a friend to drive them. Horizon Airport Shuttle carries passengers to and from the airport by reservation for $58 one way. For more information, call 860-429-8002.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (located near Grand Union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25882Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T22:07:16Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* HEALTH BENEFITS */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in Wilbur Cross. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross.<br />
<br />
<br />
== UCONN TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held from 4 to 5. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). On occasion, a reception with refreshments will be held after the seminar. Monday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Additionally, in the spring of 2004, UConn’s EEB graduate students hosted the second Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (NEEC). This conference has been modeled after the Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) and will likely be held in other northeastern schools in the years to come. Much like the annual Graduate Student Symposium, NEEC encourages talks and posters on ongoing research, previous research and ideas for research projects. Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 102, 107, 108, or 110). 102 is the non-Majors course. 107, 108 and 110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $750 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and $13 for the Graduate Student Senate. Moreover, students registering at UConn for the first time must pay an additional $75 ($50 deposit account, $25 Co-op account) that will be refunded when you obtain your degree, assuming you have no outstanding library bills. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $250) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html|Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://www.ia.uconn.edu/ International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments so they might provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with.<br />
<br />
If you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance.<br />
<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other most important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in Norwich. There is a week- long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu ITAP web site].<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=student+recreation+facility&hl=en&ll=41.806589,-72.255385&spn=0.007885,0.021136&sll=41.806677,-72.254677&sspn=0.003943,0.010568&t=h&hnear=Student+Recreation+Facility,+STORRS+MANSFIELD,+Connecticut+06269&z=16&iwloc=A student recreation facility] is next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, etc.) are offered every semester for a reasonable price. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The Student Union shows free mainstream movies every Sunday night during the semester, and every Wednesday night during the summer. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean)<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: Holiday Cafe (C, four corners), Java Joint (on campus: Co-op and Business bldg), Origins (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks <br />
*Bagel shops: Java Joint, Origins <br />
*Chinese: Chang’s Garden, Tin Tsin II, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus) <br />
*Indian: Wings Express (above Tin Tsin, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Cayote Flaco (C, near Coventry)<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C).<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There is a student reviewed restauraunt listing at the [http://uconn.dailyjolt.com/food Daily Jolt] and growing review site at [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp] <br />
<br />
Coffee clubs/hours are run by several groups on campus: The International Student House – (check the Daily Campus for information), Graduate Student Association (announcements go out on UConn grad listserv). There are three bars within walking distance of campus: Ted’s, Huskies, and Civic Pub. Further away from campus (requiring a designated driver), you can visit the Bidwell Tavern (in Coventry), Margarita’s (on route 32, midway between routes 44 and 195), Schmedley’s (in Eagleville, no longer open and a new pub is coming), Willimantic Brew Pub and the Main St. Cafe (on Main St. in Willimantic).<br />
<br />
If you plan to cook and you don’t want to venture too far from campus you can buy your groceries at the Grand Union (Route 44, near Route 195). However, their prices tend to be slightly inflated. Willimantic has a number of large supermarkets (Super Stop ‘n Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, and Super Walmart). You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] (ask around for directions) or Champlion’s General Store (South Eagleville Road toward Coventry, across Route 32 and on the corner) or at Wild Scallions on route 44 near Grand Union (no bulk goods).<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors 3 graduate student parties (with free food and drink) per semester. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Transportation ===<br />
<br />
The University provides an escort service (486-4809) for people who need assistance crossing campus during the day and for people who don’t want to walk across campus at night. A campus shuttle bus also helps transport students from one end of the campus to the other, operating during library hours. The campus shuttle also services some of the nearby apartment complexes (call 486-1448 for information). The WRTD bus runs from Holiday Mall, past campus, to Willimantic. In addition to the regular day service, the University runs a bus on the same route twice each night. WRTD buses are equipped with bike racks (but the University buses, including the night buses to Willimantic, are not), so you can ride from home to the nearest bus stop. You should check the Transportation services website for the most up-to-date information on routes and timing or call (456-2223 or 486-5013). Many buses are free provided you have a valid student I.D.<br />
<br />
From Storrs, you can catch a bus to downtown Hartford; call Arrow Lines (1-800-243-9560) for more information. Call the Rt 66 Quickmart (456-0440) in Willimantic for Main Street, Willimantic departures on Bonanza Lines buses to Boston, Providence, Hartford, or New York. Some of these buses also depart from campus.<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is Bradley International (also called Hartford-Springfield or Windsor Locks), although Providence is not much farther. Most people try to get a friend to drive them. Horizon Airport Shuttle carries passengers to and from the airport by reservation for $58 one way. For more information, call 860-429-8002.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (located near Grand Union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25879Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T22:05:34Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* HEALTH BENEFITS */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in Wilbur Cross. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross.<br />
<br />
<br />
== UCONN TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held from 4 to 5. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). On occasion, a reception with refreshments will be held after the seminar. Monday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Additionally, in the spring of 2004, UConn’s EEB graduate students hosted the second Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (NEEC). This conference has been modeled after the Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) and will likely be held in other northeastern schools in the years to come. Much like the annual Graduate Student Symposium, NEEC encourages talks and posters on ongoing research, previous research and ideas for research projects. Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 102, 107, 108, or 110). 102 is the non-Majors course. 107, 108 and 110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $750 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and $13 for the Graduate Student Senate. Moreover, students registering at UConn for the first time must pay an additional $75 ($50 deposit account, $25 Co-op account) that will be refunded when you obtain your degree, assuming you have no outstanding library bills. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $250) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [[http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html|Student Health Services site]] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://www.ia.uconn.edu/ International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments so they might provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with.<br />
<br />
If you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance.<br />
<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other most important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in Norwich. There is a week- long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu ITAP web site].<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The student recreation facility is next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, etc.) are offered every semester for a reasonable price. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The Student Union shows free mainstream movies every Sunday night during the semester, and every Wednesday night during the summer. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean)<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: Holiday Cafe (C, four corners), Java Joint (on campus: Co-op and Business bldg), Origins (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks <br />
*Bagel shops: Java Joint, Origins <br />
*Chinese: Chang’s Garden, Tin Tsin II, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus) <br />
*Indian: Wings Express (above Tin Tsin, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Cayote Flaco (C, near Coventry)<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C).<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There is a student reviewed restauraunt listing at the [http://uconn.dailyjolt.com/food Daily Jolt] and growing review site at [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp] <br />
<br />
Coffee clubs/hours are run by several groups on campus: The International Student House – (check the Daily Campus for information), Graduate Student Association (announcements go out on UConn grad listserv). There are three bars within walking distance of campus: Ted’s, Huskies, and Civic Pub. Further away from campus (requiring a designated driver), you can visit the Bidwell Tavern (in Coventry), Margarita’s (on route 32, midway between routes 44 and 195), Schmedley’s (in Eagleville, no longer open and a new pub is coming), Willimantic Brew Pub and the Main St. Cafe (on Main St. in Willimantic).<br />
<br />
If you plan to cook and you don’t want to venture too far from campus you can buy your groceries at the Grand Union (Route 44, near Route 195). However, their prices tend to be slightly inflated. Willimantic has a number of large supermarkets (Super Stop ‘n Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, and Super Walmart). You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] (ask around for directions) or Champlion’s General Store (South Eagleville Road toward Coventry, across Route 32 and on the corner) or at Wild Scallions on route 44 near Grand Union (no bulk goods).<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors 3 graduate student parties (with free food and drink) per semester. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Transportation ===<br />
<br />
The University provides an escort service (486-4809) for people who need assistance crossing campus during the day and for people who don’t want to walk across campus at night. A campus shuttle bus also helps transport students from one end of the campus to the other, operating during library hours. The campus shuttle also services some of the nearby apartment complexes (call 486-1448 for information). The WRTD bus runs from Holiday Mall, past campus, to Willimantic. In addition to the regular day service, the University runs a bus on the same route twice each night. WRTD buses are equipped with bike racks (but the University buses, including the night buses to Willimantic, are not), so you can ride from home to the nearest bus stop. You should check the Transportation services website for the most up-to-date information on routes and timing or call (456-2223 or 486-5013). Many buses are free provided you have a valid student I.D.<br />
<br />
From Storrs, you can catch a bus to downtown Hartford; call Arrow Lines (1-800-243-9560) for more information. Call the Rt 66 Quickmart (456-0440) in Willimantic for Main Street, Willimantic departures on Bonanza Lines buses to Boston, Providence, Hartford, or New York. Some of these buses also depart from campus.<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is Bradley International (also called Hartford-Springfield or Windsor Locks), although Providence is not much farther. Most people try to get a friend to drive them. Horizon Airport Shuttle carries passengers to and from the airport by reservation for $58 one way. For more information, call 860-429-8002.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (located near Grand Union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Handbook&diff=25878Graduate Student Handbook2013-05-14T22:01:36Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: health benefits</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Gradhandbook.png|left|200px]]<br />
<br />
== INTRODUCTION ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:nicola.jpg|right|frame|Nicola Plowes using an aspirator to transfer ants]]This guide was developed by [http://www.uconn.edu/ UConn] graduate students to help new graduate students through the maze of problems, decisions and small joys associated with joining this department, enrolling in this University, and living in Storrs. It contains the collective experiences and wisdom of many people who were once new students; it is a guide to UConn as we have experienced it. This guide is not meant to be a substitute for official information sources rather it is meant to aid finding those official sources and to complement them. We have included a lot of information here because there are so many small things that are hard to find out otherwise. You may, however, run the risk of information overload if you read it all at once. So browse through this using the headings and sub-headings to guide you. Where helpful we have made key words bold. If there is anything you can’t find here just ask your advisor or a fellow student. Please also record your experiences (and your opinion of this manual) and provide these comments to a current member of the EEB Welcome Committee. Your comments can help in the next revision of this handbook.<br />
<br />
== TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING ==<br />
<br />
[[Image:cemetery.jpg|thumb|right|Torrey Life Sciences and the Pharmacy/Biology building viewed from the cemetery]]First and foremost you need to know the basics of the building that houses much of this department, called Torrey Life Sciences, or TLS (you might ponder why life sciences is opposite a cemetery and beside Pathobiology). You can find EEB folks in two other nearby buildings (Biology/Physics and Pharmacy/Biology), but the EEB Department office and the Biology Central Services office are located in TLS.<br />
<br />
=== EEB support staff ===<br />
There are three administrative offices of interest in the building. On the first floor (room 161) is Biology Central Services (BCS), which is a central office for three biology departments: EEB, MCB - Molecular and Cell Biology, and PNB - Physiology and Neurobiology. Here you can find <br />
* [[Anne St. Onge]] (graduate records)<br />
* [[Lois Somers]] (travel, payroll)<br />
* [[Stephanie Balogh]] (purchasing)<br />
* [[Carol Blow]] (100's courses, risograph)<br />
* [[Debbie McIntosh]] (office manager)<br />
* [[Lynn Grabowski]] (grant accounts)<br />
* [[Paul Betts]] (Assistant Dean, Life Sciences) <br />
On the third floor (room 314) is the EEB Departmental Office. A number of student secretaries and the mail boxes for all EEB faculty, staff and graduate students (mail box U-43) are all found in this office. Attached to the third floor office is the business office of the [[Department Head]], [[Kathy Tebo]], (room 312, Administrative Assistant), and [[Pat Anderson]], (Fiscal Supervisor). On the first floor (room 175) you can find the stockroom, run by [[Ken Bernier]].<br />
You are also encouraged to utilize the unique facilities and staff we have in our [[EEB Collections Facility|University of Connecticut Biological Collections]], [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ greenhouse] (Clinton Morse, Sandy Ek), [http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/ herbarium] (Bob Capers), [http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/insects.html invertebrate collections] (Jane O’Donnell), vertebrate collections (Kentwood Wells), and our library liaison (Carolyn Mills).<br />
<br />
=== Office Space ===<br />
<br />
As an EEB grad student you will be assigned an office space, where you will have your own desk and where you will spend the next few years of your life banging your head against said furniture. This desk could be in your advisor’s lab, or it could be in a separate office space with one or two other students. If you wish to re-locate, talk to your advisor and/or Janine Caira. For instructions on how to receive a key for your new space, see [[#Whom_to_see_for_what|Whom To See For What section]].<br />
<br />
== STUDENT I.D. ==<br />
You can obtain your Student ID in Wilbur Cross. If you enter the building by the main entrance there is an information desk – ask at the desk where to go to get your student ID card. You will need to register and pay your fees, or get a fee deferral first, before you can get your card. The bursar’s office handles the registration/fees and fortunately all these services are now in the same area of Wilbur Cross.<br />
<br />
<br />
== UCONN TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ==<br />
<br />
<br />
=== Parking ===<br />
<br />
There is student parking available relatively close to our buildings. You must obtain a sticker (after paying fees or receiving a fee deferral) from parking services. The cost of the parking sticker will depend on the lot(s) you wish to park in.<br />
*'''Parking Garage''' - The most expensive sticker ($400) is for the North Parking Garage. High price but no problem finding a spot most of the time. You can also pay by the hour or day in this lot.<br />
*'''[[Graduate Assistantship|GA/TA]] Parking''' - Your graduate assistant parking sticker (~ $75) allows you to park in any of the lots designated for students (lots with a letter designation). Lots often utilized by EEB grads (roughly in order of proximity) are Farmer Brown Lot (formerly X lot), F lot, T lot, L lot, and W lot.<br />
*'''Area 3 Parking''' - Grad assistants can also obtain a sticker to park for free in restricted sections of some of the lots farther from campus. The Area 3 parking in F lot is reasonably close but fills up at an early hour; Area 3 parking is always available in the farther away W lot.<br />
<br />
You can park almost anywhere on campus after 4:00 p.m. (beware, however, of employee parking that is restricted until 5:00 p.m.). Parking along North Eagleville Rd. is allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors need to get a parking permit to avoid being ticketed during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday). The North and South Parking Garages are also available to visitors, but they must pay the hourly or daily rate. Police are prevalent on campus and will give tickets if you park illegally.<br />
<br />
For more information, see the Parking and Transportation Services ([http://web.uconn.edu/parking/ website]).<br />
<br />
== THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/ Graduate School] (6-3331), located on the second floor of the Whetten Graduate Center, is responsible for a myriad of paperwork: graduate registration; graduate fellowships; approving your plan of study and dissertation prospectus; dissertations; and information about internal and external sources of funding. <br />
<br />
===How to register and pay your bill===<br />
<br />
You will first need to talk to your advisor and other students to find out what courses you should take (see the [[#Finding_Out_About_Courses|Finding out about courses]] section). There is a list of classes available online through the Registrar’s office website. The Student Administration System ([[PeopleSoft]]) is your gateway to registering for classes. To get in this system you will need your Student ID Number and password (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
<br />
There is a seemingly endless assortment of links, help pages, and instructions found on the web sites of the registrar. If you cannot find what you need, or can’t do what you need to in order to register for classes, ask someone for help. Either talking to another grad student or a call to the registrar’s office (6-3331) can save you a lot of aggravation and frustration. The online system has been in place since 2001 and is a work in progress. Its use, the documentation, and the help available seem to improve every semester.<br />
<br />
Registering for classes allows the bursar's office to be able to generate a bill for you. If you register early enough before the semester starts you may get a bill in the mail. Regardless of having been mailed a bill or not, you need to pay your fees by the tenth day of classes. You can also get your bill by walking into the Bursar's office (Wilbur Cross Building) and asking for it. Your fees will be ~ $750. You can pay this at the Bursar's office or have this fee deferred via payroll deduction. The Bursar’s office can explain details about deferments and a form can be filled out [http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/pay_ded_assistant.html online].<br />
<br />
== EEB LOGISTICS ==<br />
<br />
===Whom to see for what===<br />
<br />
====Building and Room Keys====<br />
For keys to your office, the building and [[EEB office]], see [[Ken Bernier]]. To obtain keys, you will need to get a key request card from Ken, have it signed by your advisor, and return it to Ken.<br />
<br />
====Office Supplies====<br />
For office supplies, including paper for the printers in labs, see the [[EEB office]] assistants, [[Kathy Tebo]], or [[Pat Anderson]].<br />
<br />
====Appointments====<br />
[[Kathy Tebo]] is the [[EEB Department Head]]'s administrative assistant; find her in the third floor office (TLS 312) for appointments with the Head. See [[Anne St. Onge]] (TLS 161) for appointments with [[Paul Betts]], the Assistant Dean of Life Sciences.<br />
<br />
====Business Cards====<br />
Graduate Students are entitled to have official University of Connecticut business cards printed with their name and contact information. Consult [[Kathy Tebo]] about ordering your business cards; it costs a little less than $20 for 500 cards.<br />
<br />
===Purchasing===<br />
====Financial Records System (FRS)====<br />
Accounts are assigned a six digit FRS number, with which purchases can be made. FRS numbers for external grants start with 4/5/6, and research foundation grants start with 4. The starting number dictates how funds can be used. For example, some funds are unrestricted, while others can be used to purchase only certain types of supplies. The blanket departmental FRS number is 255200, from which reimbursements are made for, e.g., [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]].<br />
<br />
====Preferred Vendors====<br />
Both the University and the State of Connecticut maintain a list of approved vendors with whom they have contracts. Whenever possible, items must be purchased from those vendors. It is often worth checking to see if the state has a preferred vendor contract for certain supplies (e.g., many chemicals can be bought at significant discounts through [http://www.fishersci.com Fisher Scientific]). The state negotiates bulk discounts with preferred vendors (see [[Stephanie Balogh]]), but be careful because occasionally items can be purchased for lower than the price offered by the preferred vendor.<br />
*[http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/contracts/contracts.php University of Connecticut contracts] (Purchasing Department)<br />
*[http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal/Portal_Home.asp State of Connecticut contracts] (Department of Administrative Services)<br />
<br />
====On-Site Pickup====<br />
Certain items are kept on-hand in the BCS [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/receiving_and_shipping__stockr.html stockroom], managed by [[Ken Bernier]]. Stocked items include pipet tips, nitrile gloves, microcentrifuge tubes, and paper towels. The complete list is [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/stocklist.html here]. Other items are stocked by the Biotechnology facility in [[BPB]], including Big Dye for sequencing and DNA purification kits. If an item is not stocked by BCS or Biotechnology, check the central warehouse list, which [[Carol Blow]] has. Carol can also field any questions you may have about central warehouse orders. You only need to fill out an order request form if you get things from the central warehouse.<br />
<br />
====Hiring Personnel====<br />
Field assistants can be hired on research funds, provided they are U.S. Citizens. There are lower overhead expenses for student workers who are hired through student labor; however, these students must be enrolled at the time of employment (i.e., summer workers must be taking summer courses). During the school year and with the right paperwork, work study students can be hired at no cost to you or your lab (see [[Lois Somers]]).<br />
<br />
====Reimbursement====<br />
Funds administered through the [[#Connecticut_State_Museum_of_Natural_History_Student_Research_Awards | MNH Research Awards]] (e.g., the Ronald Bamford Fund) may be taken as reimbursement. Documentation is required for reimbursements from UConn funds that is often more thorough than what external fund sources require. Examples of reimbursement documentation:<br />
*Equipment: Copy of credit card statement, online order receipt, packing slip, justification for why purchased.<br />
*Mileage: Gasoline purchase receipt and copy of that day's field notes.<br />
*Airline travel: Itinerary receipt, credit card statement, boarding passes.<br />
<br />
====EEB Department Credit Card====<br />
All purchases under $100 must be made on the departmental credit card (e.g., items not sold by approved vendors, often sold by internet vendors). [[Kathy Tebo]] and [[Pat Anderson]] are approved to make purchases using the departmental credit card. To have them make a purchase, you will need to print out a copy of the website you visited, making explicit just what item should be bought.<br />
<br />
====Deliveries====<br />
After you receive a delivery, it is essential that you sign and date the invoice/packing slip and give it to [[Ken Bernier]] - or else the vendor does not get paid. If the item was purchased on the departmental credit card the packing list must go to Kathy.<br />
<br />
====Miscellaneous====<br />
If none of these options works, any vendor will do. So shop around. Ask [[Stephanie Balogh]] if you have other specific questions or for purchasing orders.<br />
<br />
===Photocopying===<br />
<br />
====EEB / TLS====<br />
<br />
Everyone gets a photocopying card (see [[Pat Anderson]] or [[Kathy Tebo]]) for use in the [[EEB office]] or the [[BCS office]]. Grad students get 500 free copies for the year - $25 is put on your copy card at the beginning of fall semester (the copy card rate is 5 cents per copy). If you exhaust the funds on your card, you can pay Pat or Kathy to have money added. Don’t forget to have another $25 be put on your card every fall. The card works in copiers in the 3rd floor (TLS 314) and 1st floor (TLS 161) offices. If you are making copies for teaching an introductory biology course (100-level course), use the machine in Biology Central Services and ask [[Carol Blow]] for the number code to pay for it. For bulk copying (>25 copies per page), use the Risograph in the BCS office (see Carol Blow, TLS 161). In addition, there are overhead transparenciess available in the EEB office (a box is usually found on the shelf where the copier paper is kept).<br />
<br />
====Library====<br />
<br />
If you will be making photocopies in the library for your research you can get a departmental copy card from the EEB Office. Ask the student at the front desk for this card and return it promptly. Be sure to write the amount remaining on the card on the outside of the little envelope in which it is kept. If you are making copies in the library on your own dime, you should use your student ID card – or as they call it the Husky One Card. You can add money to your card by credit card by accessing this website: www.onecard.uconn.edu/deposit.html. <br />
Be aware that there are a large number of full text journal articles available online, many of which can be linked to through the library web site from any computer connected to the network. <br />
<br />
=== Departmental Computer Resources ===<br />
<br />
The departmental computer room is on the fourth floor (TLS 477). A fob key can be obtained from Kathy Tebo (TLS 312) with a key request card (Biology Central Services, TLS 161) signed by your advisor. There are Macs, Husky PC’s, a scanner, projectors, laser printers and lots of software. Teaching has priority access to these computers so occasionally you could be kicked out during the day during the semester. You should use the departmental photocopiers for making more than a few copies of anything; this will help conserve toner cartridges and printers. Also, to save trees, try to make use of the draft printer when you have a project that doesn't warrant a first-rate product. Daniel Fan and Charlie Henry manage the computer room and department network. Departmental web pages and the web server are managed by Paul Lewis.<br />
<br />
There is a mainframe computer on campus which someone, someday, may suggest you use for something like running SPSS (a statistics package)…….you can log onto the mainframe using your NETID (this is the username/password you use for your Huskymail account). There are mainframe terminals in the computer room (Math Science Building) or you can use a freely available (to UConn folks, at least) emulator program called [http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/software/3270/3270main.html HostExplorer]. This program comes preinstalled on HuskyPC’s and is also accessible from the EEB computer room PC’s. Just ask the resident computer geek how to find the program. <br />
<br />
The computer center does not offer dial up accounts to access UConn computers. Instead you will have to obtain an internet carrier at home (SBC, etc.) and obtain a Proxy Account. The computer center website has a lot of information on general computer concerns as well as info on Proxy Accounts. The computer center can be found in the Math Science Building (though may be moving soon) as well as at www.uits.uconn.edu. Hours of operation are M-F from 8 to 5. Calls are favored, leave a message and they will get back to you. Stopping by is not encouraged as they are understaffed and spend more time answering phone calls and messages. To learn more about a Proxy account, go to the Index of Services link from the website listed above, then click on P; or go directly to: http://www.helpdesk.uconn.edu/faq/proxyfaq.html.<br />
<br />
===Other technical resources===<br />
<br />
If you should need government documents for your research, check first to see if the library has what you're looking for. There are government journals for things like agricultural research, which also contain articles of interest to EEBians. Carolyn Mills is the biology liaison at the library and often runs special seminars on how to use the library’s electronic resources. View [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/using/services/liaison/Mills.html Carolyn's website] for contact info and other resources.<br />
If you want to make slides for a presentation, you can have them made by [[Virge Kask]] (TLS 168). Virge can also help you with posters, banners, digital imaging, etc. Check out [http://www.bcs.uconn.edu/illust2.html Virge's website] for more info. Overhead projectors, overhead transparencies, and slide projectors can usually be obtained from the Office Assistants (TLS 314) and computer projectors can be checked out from either the computer lab (TLS 477) or from the Office Assistants (TLS 314).<br />
<br />
===Communications: mail, phones, faxes, e-mail===<br />
<br />
If you want to send mail that is associated with your professional work, it will be paid for by the Department. Write the EEB mail code (255200) in the upper left corner or there is an ink stamp with this number in the office. Drop mail in the basket in either the Dept. Office or Biology Central Services. Many student office telephones will only make local or on-campus calls, or 1-800's (e.g. your calling card). For long distance calls from school, make an arrangement with your advisor. To connect to an off campus number, you must first dial ‘8’, and then the number you wish to reach. To connect to an on campus number, you can simply dial ‘6’ and then the last four numbers of the number you wish to call.<br />
<br />
There is a fax machine on the third floor (TLS 314). EEB will pay for work-related faxes, but you will be billed for personal faxes. Our university email is the Huskymail system (see http://www.techtraining.uconn.edu/ if you need to find out about computer access ID’s).<br />
Some useful email aliases are:<br />
* [mailto:eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-dept@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (this reaches all EEBians)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-grads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (email to all the EEB grads)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-faculty@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] (you get the idea…..)<br />
* [mailto:eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-staff@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu eeb-undergrads@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu] <br />
* [mailto:biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu biograds-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (graduate students in EEB, MCB, and PNB) <br />
* [mailto:bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu bcs-l@listserve.uconn.edu] (everyone in EEB, MCB, and PNB)<br />
<br />
===Seminars===<br />
<br />
The weekly Departmental Seminar, which brings in outside speakers as well as members of our own faculty, is usually held from 4 to 5. You should go to seminar every week (you're expected to be there, it is good to hear about other scientist's work, it's your duty, etc). On occasion, a reception with refreshments will be held after the seminar. Monday Evening Seminars, which are held at a professor’s house, are more irregular and generally less formal. Food and drink are provided. Most grad students give a research seminar in one or the other series, often for their dissertation defense. Grad students also have the opportunity to give research talks in a yearly Graduate Student Symposium, held in the spring semester. Everyone is encouraged to contribute; even if it’s his/her first year (pre-UConn work can be presented as well as ideas for research projects still in the making). Additionally, in the spring of 2004, UConn’s EEB graduate students hosted the second Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (NEEC). This conference has been modeled after the Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) and will likely be held in other northeastern schools in the years to come. Much like the annual Graduate Student Symposium, NEEC encourages talks and posters on ongoing research, previous research and ideas for research projects. Participating in these departmentally sponsored opportunities is a good way to practice before presenting at national meetings.<br />
<br />
Watch also for the Teale Lecture Series, an interdepartmental seminar that deals with issues of environmental concern.<br />
<br />
===Bamford Room===<br />
<br />
Graduate students are encouraged to use the Bamford (TLS 171b) for reading, relaxation, informal discussions or organized meetings. However the room is also used for formal seminars, receptions, etc. Events are kept on a schedule that is maintained by Kathleen Tebo (TLS 312). If you want to use the Bamford room for an official meeting reserve it in advance with Kathy. Some labs have a key to the Bamford Room; if you cannot find your lab’s key, ask your advisor. The Bamford has some journals, useful books, good resource for funding of graduate research projects, a microwave and a fridge. The fridge sometimes has leftover wine; there is probably still half a bottle of white zinfandel from the last reception. If you plan to drink anything in the Bamford, take a mug as cups are not always available there. If you use the Bamford, you are expected to clean it afterwards (vacuum cleaner next to sink). Do not leave this room a mess.<br />
<br />
=== Finding Out About Courses ===<br />
<br />
The directory of classes (available at the Registrar and on the Registrar’s web page) is only the beginning of available courses. There are often courses and seminars available that are not announced in the directory. In your first semester, you should ask your advisor about which courses to take. It’s also a good idea to consult the department’s [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebwww/courses/index.php course website] to see what is offered during particular semesters. Some courses are offered annually but most are offered every other year. Independent study and reading classes are also available if you or anyone else organizes them. Talk to your professor about a specific course offering if you are not sure if it’s for you. Charlie Henry has a list of courses the department plans to offer in future semesters if you want to plan ahead. Many students take out-of-department classes, especially statistics. There is a list of non-EEB courses that grads have taken and recommend Statistics 320-321 (Applied Statistics). In any case, it’s always best to find someone who has taken the course and get the real scoop (this advice applies to courses in this and other departments).<br />
<br />
=== Some Hidden EEB Resources ===<br />
* Collections Library: found in the Bio/Physics Building, room 112. This library holds botanical, vertebrate, invertebrate and other biological resources. Some journals that are not found at the library may be found here. <br />
* [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/contact.htm Connecticut Museum of Natural History] –2019 Hillside Road, next to the Co-op, hosts many activities like Insect Days, Herp Days, and Bird Days with which you can be involved and get out in the field. The Museum also hosts [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/BioBlitz/index.html BioBlitz] every year, usually in early June. This event is chaired by David Wagner and attracts biologists from every area who converge on a selected site in CT and catalogue all species they can find within a 24 hour period. To find out about other events at the Museum of Natural History, check out the [http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/events.htm museum events website]. <br />
*[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ Greenhouse] – Collection greenhouses are located behind TLS and are open to the public from 8:00 until 4:00, M-F. Research greenhouses are located on the 6th floor of the BioPhysics building, connected to TLS but access is limited to those performing research in this facility. If you would like to use this space for your research, talk with [mailto:clinton.morse@uconn.edu Clinton Morse].<br />
* Bamford Journals – many of the standard EEB journals. There is a more or less complete collection of theses produced in this department, and many monographs authored by our faculty. There are also some classic books, and a little information on grants. Room 171B.<br />
* Darkroom – Talk with the [[Department Head]] if you need access to darkroom facilities (photo processing).<br />
*Automatic collator and stapler -- in Biology Central Services (TLS 161). Very handy if you are preparing a multi-page handout.<br />
<br />
== DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ==<br />
<br />
In this section is all the basic information you need for completing your degree in EEB. It may seem like too much information to handle as a new student, in which case feel free to skip this whole section. Or maybe you are the type of person who wants all the gory, depressing details right from the beginning, in which case you should read every word. Just keep in mind that you’ve got time.<br />
The official word on all these particulars comes from the graduate school catalog – not the document you are presently reading. A link to the official scoop on things, the forms mentioned below, and other useful information about all the hoops you need to jump through can be found by rooting around online at:<br />
http://www.grad.uconn.edu/<br />
<br />
=== Committee and Advisor ===<br />
<br />
If you are here you already have an advisor. You can change advisors but this is best to do within your first academic year and certainly before starting research. It can be done at any time, but the political and academic repercussions could be difficult. You may lose time in the process. If you change your major advisor, you must fill out the proper form for the Graduate School (form available from BCS). Please be sure to inform Kathy Tebo of the change as well. <br />
Your advisor is automatically the chair of your committee, the group of professors who supervise and aid your research. Your committee must include at least three people, counting your advisor; add more members if you want. External (not associated with the University of Connecticut) committee members are possible but not required. The job of forming a committee is in your hands -- you chose the members. When choosing your committee, keep in mind that official committee members must be present for the general exam and oral defense (more on those events below). You have the option of having some "readers" (whose names can appear on the signature page of your dissertation), who do not need to be present at either event. You do not have to choose your committee immediately (committees are finalized generally at the end of your second year/beginning of third year) but you should think about potential committee members as soon as possible. Ask other students about their experiences. <br />
<br />
=== Language Requirement=== <br />
If your committee decides that you need to have proficiency in a foreign language, you will need to show the ability to read a foreign language by the time you leave. The graduate school catalogue gives guidelines on how to pass the language requirement. Most people translate an article into English for a professor in the Department (this professor cannot be a committee member). Keep in mind that it is possible to use statistics as a foreign language, but those credits cannot apply to your total (see the [[#Credit_Requirements|Credit Requirements section]]). Watch for futures changes that might allow a computer language to satisfy the language requirement. The language requirement is an easy thing to get out of the way during your first couple of years here.<br />
<br />
=== GPA Requirement ===<br />
<br />
You need to maintain a 3.0 GPA (grade point average) to keep your RA or TA, but falling below this GPA has not occurred in recent memory. For foreign students: details of how the GPA is calculated are outlined in the graduate student catalog and you can ask your advisor or others for help.<br />
<br />
=== Credit Requirements ===<br />
<br />
You need a certain number of credits to get your degree. Exact amounts can vary but the guidelines are as follows: for a Master’s - 15 credits plus a thesis, or 24 credits and no thesis; for a Ph.D. - at least 40 post-baccalaureate credits (i.e. if you have a Master’s already, count these credits). The Graduate School has been known to approve plans with 39 credits.<br />
It is important to recognize that non-departmental courses can qualify (unless you are taking them for the language requirement, in which case they cannot be counted). 200-level courses can also apply up to a maximum of ten, and they must not be open to sophomores (although this rule can be broken if you get permission). Specifics must be approved and finalized in your plan of study.<br />
To fill your schedule for full-time status, register for GRAD 395 (Masters) or GRAD 495 (Doctoral). Register for the section that corresponds to the number of credits you need (e.g., section 02 for two credits).<br />
<br />
=== Plan of Study === <br />
<br />
The graduate school requests that you submit a plan of study before you have completed 12 credits. More commonly students submit their plan later than this (frequently in their third year), and have suffered no repercussions. The plan of study is required by the third semester and must be approved by the Advisory Committee. It is basically a list of the courses you have taken or intend to take. Get the form [http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html here]. Your committee will look over it and may recommend you take additional courses to fill in any gaps you may have. The plan is submitted to the graduate school and must be approved by them before you can take your general examination. When you submit the form to Graduate School, make sure you have your own (fourth) copy and have them date stamp it. Apparently they're good at losing stuff. They will not approve plans with insufficient credits. It is possible to change your plan of study after it has been approved, but this requires filling out more forms. Call the grad school for advice or assistance.<br />
<br />
=== The General Examination ===<br />
<br />
Also commonly called "the orals", "generals" or "the qualifying exam." You must pass an oral exam conducted by a panel of five professors (your committee plus however many extra professors are needed to make up a total of five). This exam is supposed to test the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to think on your feet, and other such skills. After passing the exam, you are officially "a candidate for the Ph.D." Thus, you receive a pay raise (if you are on an assistantship) and are eligible for some travel money and other minor funds from the graduate school. You must let Anne St. Onge know that you passed before your pay raise can be processed. It’s an intense experience, but they say it’s good for the soul. We’re not sure if we believe it. The EEB faculty recommends we take the “General” before the end of the fifth semester of full-time study. Most students take it the end of their second or the beginning of their third year. As far as we know, no one ever fails the general exam, he/she is simply asked to do it again. This has happened a few times in recent history. It is no doubt preferable to only suffer the experience once but the main thing is to eventually pass it.<br />
It is your job to schedule your general exam, and your job to make sure at least five professors will attend. You must advertise the event within the department because other professors are allowed to attend if they so desire. Other students are not welcome. When preparing for the generals make sure you speak to your five professors and ask them what they expect of you. The graduate students keep a book with questions asked of students in previous general exams (as recalled as soon as possible after the experience). This may be helpful in your preparation. Ask around for this book.<br />
<br />
=== The Research Prospectus, the Dissertation, and the Oral Defense ===<br />
<br />
The Graduate School also requires that you submit a research prospectus in addition to your plan of study. This is reviewed by people who may be from other fields (e.g. the arts, engineering etc.), so you want to pitch it to a broader audience. Kathy Tebo has a department form you must complete in order to have your prospectus reviewed. The dissertation is a research paper (or series of papers) you write. It’s long; set aside a couple of years. The oral defense is a seminar you give explaining the research done for your dissertation. Ask a student who is nearing the end of his or her degree about what this entails or you can find out first hand by attending a defense.<br />
<br />
== TEACHING ==<br />
<br />
Probably the majority of you will be TA’s (teaching assistants) for at least part of your time here. Before you begin teaching, it is mandatory that you attend the graduate teaching assistants' orientation. You should have the details of this mailed to you; it is held sometime in August, generally 5-10 days before classes start. If you do not have any details about this by early August – call or email Anne St. Onge. This workshop covers the support services available to TA’s; gives pointers on lectures, discussions, and lab classes; demonstrates visual techniques using overheads, videos, blackboards and projectors; and helps quell that feeling of “I’m-a-new-teacher-and-I’ve-got-butterflies-in-my-tummy.”<br />
<br />
Most beginning graduate students are assigned to TA introductory biology classes (i.e. Bio. 102, 107, 108, or 110). 102 is the non-Majors course. 107, 108 and 110 form the introductory sequence for potential majors: 107-Molecular and Cell Biology, Animal Anatomy and Physiology; 108 - Plant Biology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution; 110 - Intro to Botany for plant science/horticulture majors.<br />
<br />
Karen Lombard (Bronwell 103) is the teaching coordinator for all these introductory biology courses. She will hold an introductory TA meeting for your course, at a time and place you will get sent a letter about. She will also provide the lab manual and course text. The full teaching load for Biology 102 is four sections (each section requires 2 hrs in the lab), and for Biology 107, 108 and 110 it is three sections (each section requires 3 hrs in the lab). A half load is two sections for each of the introductory courses (yes, a half-timer teaching 107, 108 or 110 actually teaches 2/3rds of the full time load). The rest of your paid time is spent in preparation, grading, TA meetings, and sometimes attending course lectures. In these introductory courses, you will not be alone -- two TA’s are assigned per section. New TA’s will usually be paired with more experienced TA’s. If you want to teach something other than introductory biology you are advised to talk to the professor teaching the course of interest.<br />
<br />
The [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu Institute for Teaching and Learning] offers services, workshops, and courses that are useful for teaching here as well as preparation for future teaching roles. You can arrange to have yourself videotaped too. This is an excellent way to evaluate your own style and presence in the classroom. Staff from the center will also review the videotape with you if you want. Most semesters the Center offers a series of lunchtime teaching oriented workshops. They also offer a semester-long course, Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning, which is intended for graduate students in all departments.<br />
<br />
== MONEY ==<br />
<br />
=== Registration Fees ===<br />
<br />
Tuition is waived for students on teaching or research assistantships. There are still fees that you must pay (at the Bursar’s office, Budds Building). For full-time graduate students (if you are a TA, you must be a full-time student), the fees are $750 a semester. This includes the General University Fee, the Graduate Matriculation Fee, maintenance and new building fees, and $13 for the Graduate Student Senate. Moreover, students registering at UConn for the first time must pay an additional $75 ($50 deposit account, $25 Co-op account) that will be refunded when you obtain your degree, assuming you have no outstanding library bills. If you stay in the dorms, your residence fee and room deposit are added on. This fee bill is due immediately after you register. If you cannot afford it right now, it is possible to defer payment, either through a series of check payments or through payroll deduction (see [[#How_to_register_and _pay_your_bill|How to register and pay your bill]]).<br />
<br />
=== Summer Money ===<br />
==== Summer Work Study ====<br />
Work-study is available in the Department, but international students (non-citizens) are not eligible. No one is guaranteed such support either. Most graduate students who apply receive $2000 for work-study from the university, which is nice because you essentially end up getting paid to do your own research. You must register for 3 credits during the summer if you're on work study. Check the requirements in the regular graduate student handbook to determine the appropriate course number for your situation. Applications are due March 1, and a copy of your federal income tax form is required. See the office of Financial Aid in the Wilbur Cross building for more information. <br />
# File your [[FAFSA]] for the school year in question (e.g. summer 2009 is part of the 2008-2009 school year) by March 1.<br />
# Register for GRAD 5960 (Master's students) or GRAD 6960 (Ph.D. students) by calling the Graduate School (x6-3617).<br />
# Complete the Graduate Enrollment Information form (can be submitted online at the [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
# Complete the Summer Financial Aid Application (can be submitted online at [http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu Financial Aid website].<br />
<br />
==== EEB Summer Fellowship ====<br />
For both international and U.S. students, the Department has summer fellowship funds that are divided among grads that don’t have income for the summer. The amount given out by these fellowship funds has declined in recent years. <br />
==== Other Funding ====<br />
Occasionally, there are a few "student labor" jobs available from faculty. Consider applying for extra-mural funding (i.e. grant money) for summer support. There are also job opportunities outside of the department (i.e. KAST, Upward Bound, etc.) which normally involve teaching. It is best to ask around and research these possibilities as there is really no one person in charge of organizing all of them. Getting adequate summer funding from some source or another is certainly possible, but plan way ahead -- start looking into possibilities in January/February.<br />
<br />
=== Income and paydays/TAs and RAs ===<br />
<br />
Most graduate students are either teaching assistants (TA’s) or research assistants (RA’s). Full-time TA’s/RA’s are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per week; half-time TA’s/RA’s receive half the pay for "half" the work. Nine month salaries for the 2006/2007 school year (before taxes) were:<br />
Basic level (Bachelor’s degree only): $18,270. <br />
After 24 credits (Masters level): $19,226. <br />
After passing general exam: $21,371. <br />
Payday occurs every other week. Talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) if you want to sign up for direct deposit; your pay will automatically be deposited into your bank account on payday. You are only guaranteed salary for nine months of the year, while you are teaching or on an RA. The [http://www.hr.uconn.edu/ web site for the UConn Department of Human Resources] has the most up-to-date information regarding graduate stipends, employee benefits, etc.<br />
<br />
=== Grants and Awards ===<br />
<br />
==== External Grants ====<br />
<br />
Getting support from some outside source is a good idea. It looks good on your Curriculum Vitae and may free you from teaching. There is information available at the Research Foundation in the Graduate Center and in the Bamford Room (TLS 171b). Many first year graduate students apply for the NSF predoctoral fellowship (ask around about it). This is difficult, but not impossible, to get. The benefits are sweet - unfortunately foreign students are not eligible. Many graduate students find smaller and sometimes obscure sources of funding – ask around to find out where they have gotten grants.<br />
<br />
==== Internal Grants ====<br />
<br />
There are several fellowships and awards available from both the Graduate School and Research Foundation at UConn.<br />
*The Graduate School offers a Special Graduate Student Fellowship ($600 per semester, $1200 max; deadlines May 1 and Dec 1) for first-year MS or PhD students.<br />
*The Research Foundation offers a Doctoral Student Travel Award ($1000 max, no competition) that can be used for travel to a professional meeting.<br />
*If you have completed your generals and your dissertation proposal is approved you also qualify for the following:<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship ($2000, competition within UConn).<br />
**Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award ($500 max, no competition).<br />
<br />
See the departmental websites for additional information and applications. Finally, annual grants are awarded within EEB and can amount to $800 or less (deadline is usually early April); these funds may be used for anything related to your research (field supplies, travel, etc) and you can apply multiple times.<br />
<br />
==== Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Student Research Awards ====<br />
<br />
Small research awards ($100 to $250) are available to graduate students currently enrolled in EEB. Applications and proposals are due in the spring semester, and the person with whom to communicate is [[Pat Anderson]]. The awards cannot be used for living expenses but may be used for travel to scientific meetings, visits to collections, field work, supplies or other costs directly related to research. The funds must be spent within one year; any funds remaining will be returned to the fund(s) from which they were originally allocated. Students who are awarded funding in one year can reapply the next year, but they may be given lower priority.<br />
<br />
Awards are available from the Museum of Natural History endowed funds listed below. The subject matter of the funds can be interpreted broadly, e.g., forestry can be any study in a forest or using trees or forest plants. <br />
<br />
*Henry N. Andrews Endowment (botany)<br />
*George Clark, Jr. Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Russell and Betty DeCoursey Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Alfred J. Hunyadi Endowment (forestry)<br />
*Jerauld Manter Endowment (ornithology)<br />
*Lawrence R. Penner Endowment (parasitology & invertebrate zoology)<br />
*James A. Slater Endowment (entomology)<br />
*Francis R. Trainor Endowment (aquatic ecology)<br />
*Ralph M. Wetzel Endowment (vertebrate biology)<br />
*Walter R. Whitworth Endowment (fishes) <br />
*Ronald Bamford Fund (botany) - applications accepted up to $1500<br />
<br />
Awarded funds are dispersed either as a lump sum directly to the graduate student (minus any money owed to the Bursar), or through reimbursements from the EEB Department. Lump sum dispersals are not restricted, but reimbursements can take advantage of University discounts. There are also [[Income Tax]] considerations.<br />
<br />
== OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ==<br />
<br />
There are many opportunities to study off-campus and earn extra credits towards your degree. Some of the options used by students in recent years include the courses run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), various courses run by the Institute for Ecosystem Studies (IES) in Millbrook, New York (which will soon be included in the UConn catalog), and two different courses in tropical botany based at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami (one run by Harvard, one run by Univ. of Florida). Ask around about these courses. The Department has some sources of funding which might help cover the costs. Students who attend the OTS course have typically had tuition (but no longer airfare) covered by the Graduate School. If you do off-campus study, ask the teaching institution to mail your grades to our Graduate Record Office.<br />
<br />
== HEALTH BENEFITS ==<br />
<br />
Health insurance is changing for the 2013-2014 school year. There will be insurance available for all graduate students through CIGNA. Details will be available at the [http://www.shs.uconn.edu/insurance.html|Student Health Services site] at some point over summer 2013.<br />
<br />
== INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES == <br />
<br />
The [http://www.ia.uconn.edu/ International Affairs Office] is your primary source of help and information. You should call or email this office for any questions or help you need that involve your status as a foreign student. It is also a good idea to talk to other international students here or in other departments so they might provide guidance about what you may need, or not need, to insure you don’t run into any unexpected problems. Money, visas, taxes, special funding, etc. are all things that other more experienced students are apt to have already dealt with.<br />
<br />
If you are earning money in the United States, you will have to pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. government. This tax is taken out of pay every pay period and you have to file an income tax form by April 15 every year. If you are paying U.S. taxes for the first time, get started early on the forms. The International Student Office arranges tax workshops, but it is up to you to find out when they are and to attend if you desire assistance.<br />
<br />
After a Social Security number and a bank account, the other most important thing to establish your life in the United States is to get a Connecticut driver’s license. If you can’t drive, get a Connecticut I.D. card instead, at least if you want to be able to write checks. Licenses and I.D. cards are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (for information, call 1-800-842-8222); the nearest office is in Norwich. There is a week- long workshop for new international graduate students scheduled for August. For more information see the [http://www.ITAP.uconn.edu ITAP web site].<br />
<br />
If you are planning on buying a used car, many of your fellow graduate students have gone through the processes and are willing to give plenty of advice. Basically, the steps are as follows: <br />
# Find a car to buy through various ad sources.<br />
# Get the car checked out, for a small fee, by a professional mechanic at a local garage.<br />
# Purchase the car and have the title transferred to your name.<br />
# Buy car accident insurance (required by Connecticut law). Talk to other students to find out which are good insurance companies and how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that insurance is sometimes more expensive than the car itself.<br />
# Get your car registration and license plates at the DMV. This also costs some money with your registration based on the value of your car. The more your car is worth, the higher the registration fee. You will also be taxed yearly on your car. The price of this is also tied to the value of your vehicle.<br />
<br />
== PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ==<br />
<br />
It is a good idea to attend professional meetings and, as soon as possible, to begin presenting your own research in the forms of posters and talks. The various meetings are advertised in journals. If you are in the PhD program it is possible to get money from the graduate school to cover the costs of attending a meeting. Each grad is entitled to $1000 during their stay at UConn. Go to the Research Foundation website for application forms. National meetings heavily attended by department members include: Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Entomological Society of America.<br />
The Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference is a regional annual meeting that is fairly low pressure -- mostly other grad students presenting their work – and a good opportunity to meet students from other colleges in the area. It is usually in early spring and located somewhere not too far from Storrs. We also have our own Graduate Student Symposium.<br />
<br />
== EEB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION ==<br />
<br />
The graduate students of EEB have an association (the [[GSA|GSA]]) that meets to discuss departmental issues and to organize things relevant to grads. This guide, for example, is a product of GSA. We have also organized various social events (i.e. parties). The GSA is the organ via which the grad students as a collective unit interact with the department. One grad student attends faculty meetings to report to them on GSA issues and also to report to the GSA on faculty issues. There are other committees and liaison jobs which students are involved in (e.g. the collections committee, computer committee, and the seminar committee). All graduate students are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings (you will be notified) to keep this body operating effectively.<br />
The GSA is in contact with the GSS, the Graduate Student Senate, which represents graduate student concerns campus-wide. For more information visit the [http://www.gss.uconn.edu/ GSS web site].<br />
<br />
== LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL ==<br />
<br />
=== Accommodation === <br />
<br />
The University provides graduate dorms. They are located right on campus so they are convenient if you don’t have a car. They are popular with international students and thus provide a multicultural atmosphere. There is also subsidized housing at Northwood Apartments for married students, though there may be a long waiting list to get in. Visit the website for the Department of Residential Life (www.reslife.uconn.edu) for information on these. If you don’t live in the grad dorms you will probably choose to rent a place somewhere in the area. Not surprisingly, rents typically increase as you approach campus. Many people find off-campus housing through various local advertisements. There is a rental directory available at the student union, on the web at the Dept. of Residential Life, and elsewhere. You may find ads for rooms on bulletin boards in the Wilbur Cross Building, in the library, or beside the entrance to the Coop. You may also check to see whether anyone is looking for housemates within the department by sending an e-mail through the departmental listserv. .<br />
If you are looking for temporary accommodations, for visitors, there is the Nathan Hale Inn and Conference center on campus (rates are around $90/night). Otherwise the nearest motel is a Best Western on the Mansfield side of Willimantic (south of campus). There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, which are nicer, but more expensive.<br />
<br />
=== Physical Fitness ===<br />
<br />
The student recreation facility is next to the Gampel Pavilion on campus. There are free-weight rooms, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball/squash courts, swimming pool, basketball courts, indoor track, aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, etc. Access to the recreation facility is free to graduate students (you will need your I.D.). You can also rent equipment (rackets, balls, etc) at no charge with your I.D. Regular classes of different kinds (aerobics, body building, etc.) are offered every semester for a reasonable price. Call Fitness for Life (486-2735 or 486-5975) for more information. If you prefer team sports, the EEB graduate students organize an intramural summer softball team and sometimes teams in other leagues. One can sometimes find pick-up soccer games, especially in the summer and on weekends. There are also some team leagues organized through the student recreation department.<br />
<br />
=== Entertainment ===<br />
<br />
The Jorgensen Auditorium has a good program for cultural activities; acts are booked from all over the world. Expect to see advertisements in your mailbox. If a show is not sold out students can purchase “hot seats” for $5 (with your I.D.) the day of the performance. The Connecticut Repertory Theater, composed of UConn drama students, performs plays during the year in Jorgensen. Season tickets are only $20 for students. Students in the School of Music perform in Von der Mehden Auditorium.<br />
<br />
The UConn Ballroom Dancing Club hosts classes every semester.<br />
For live music, local bands play in local bars. Big name bands are not likely to come any closer than New Haven, Hartford, or Northampton. The Iron Horse, in Northampton, MA, has live music every night, with some big names in folk, blues, jazz, etc. For entertainment information the best source is the Hartford Advocate - free and available in newsstands around campus, appearing every Thursday.<br />
<br />
=== Movies and Video ===<br />
<br />
The Von der Mehden Auditorium has films every Friday night during the semester. They show art house and foreign films, and sometimes mainstream movies. The Student Union shows free mainstream movies every Sunday night during the semester, and every Wednesday night during the summer. For off-campus movies, the nearest theaters are in Mansfield (Student Union and the Eastbrook Mall), Manchester (near Buckland Hills Mall), and East Hartford (568-8810). For artier films, we recommend Hoyt’s (East Hartford), Cinestudio at Trinity College (Hartford), and Real Art Ways (Hartford). If you want the latest scoop on these films ask Greg Anderson. Mansfield has a drive-in that is operational during the warmer months. This area also has a number of video stores. Video Visions has a larger selection and great mid-week deals; it is located in the Holiday Mall on Route 195, just north of Four Corners.<br />
<br />
=== Food and Drink ===<br />
<br />
The University offers a meal plan, which allows you to eat in the dining halls and purchase meals from retail restaurants on campus. To obtain more information, contact the Department of Dining services or check their website. There are a few meal trucks on campus serving general truck-fare (e.g. soups, sandwiches, etc), although Lizzie’s truck (located on Whitney Rd) offers meals with a gourmet twist.<br />
<br />
The campus and downtown Storrs are undergoing improvements so there are many new restaurants and cafes popping up every semester. Below is a list of restaurants in the area some within walking distance others require a car (C): <br />
*Sandwich shops: Blimpie’s, Subway, Ted’s, Sara's Pockets (Mediterranean)<br />
*Pizza: Ted's, New York Style Pizza Co (C), Papa Gino's (Student Union), Sgt. Pepperoni<br />
*Coffeehouses/cafes: Holiday Cafe (C, four corners), Java Joint (on campus: Co-op and Business bldg), Origins (campus-run, several located in buildings including one in the adjacent Bio/Physics bldg), Starbucks <br />
*Bagel shops: Java Joint, Origins <br />
*Chinese: Chang’s Garden, Tin Tsin II, Oriental Cafe II (C or bus) <br />
*Indian: Wings Express (above Tin Tsin, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet); <br />
*Mexican: Margarita’s (C), Cayote Flaco (C, near Coventry)<br />
*American: Chuck’s Steakhouse (C, same location as Margarita’s), Friendly’s, Nathan Hale (on campus), Chuck & Augies (Student Union), Zenny’s Restaurant (C).<br />
<br />
There are tasty eateries in the local area (Willimantic, Manchester, Hartford, etc). Ask fellow grad students for their favorite recommendations! There is a student reviewed restauraunt listing at the [http://uconn.dailyjolt.com/food Daily Jolt] and growing review site at [http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Storrs%2C+CT&x=0&y=0 Yelp] <br />
<br />
Coffee clubs/hours are run by several groups on campus: The International Student House – (check the Daily Campus for information), Graduate Student Association (announcements go out on UConn grad listserv). There are three bars within walking distance of campus: Ted’s, Huskies, and Civic Pub. Further away from campus (requiring a designated driver), you can visit the Bidwell Tavern (in Coventry), Margarita’s (on route 32, midway between routes 44 and 195), Schmedley’s (in Eagleville, no longer open and a new pub is coming), Willimantic Brew Pub and the Main St. Cafe (on Main St. in Willimantic).<br />
<br />
If you plan to cook and you don’t want to venture too far from campus you can buy your groceries at the Grand Union (Route 44, near Route 195). However, their prices tend to be slightly inflated. Willimantic has a number of large supermarkets (Super Stop ‘n Shop, Shaw’s, Big Y, and Super Walmart). You can purchase organic food, bulk dry goods, and herbs and spices at the [http://www.willimanticfood.coop/ Willimantic Food Coop] (ask around for directions) or Champlion’s General Store (South Eagleville Road toward Coventry, across Route 32 and on the corner) or at Wild Scallions on route 44 near Grand Union (no bulk goods).<br />
<br />
The Graduate Student Senate sponsors 3 graduate student parties (with free food and drink) per semester. It is certainly a good place to mingle with graduate students outside of the department.<br />
<br />
=== Transportation ===<br />
<br />
The University provides an escort service (486-4809) for people who need assistance crossing campus during the day and for people who don’t want to walk across campus at night. A campus shuttle bus also helps transport students from one end of the campus to the other, operating during library hours. The campus shuttle also services some of the nearby apartment complexes (call 486-1448 for information). The WRTD bus runs from Holiday Mall, past campus, to Willimantic. In addition to the regular day service, the University runs a bus on the same route twice each night. WRTD buses are equipped with bike racks (but the University buses, including the night buses to Willimantic, are not), so you can ride from home to the nearest bus stop. You should check the Transportation services website for the most up-to-date information on routes and timing or call (456-2223 or 486-5013). Many buses are free provided you have a valid student I.D.<br />
<br />
From Storrs, you can catch a bus to downtown Hartford; call Arrow Lines (1-800-243-9560) for more information. Call the Rt 66 Quickmart (456-0440) in Willimantic for Main Street, Willimantic departures on Bonanza Lines buses to Boston, Providence, Hartford, or New York. Some of these buses also depart from campus.<br />
<br />
The nearest airport is Bradley International (also called Hartford-Springfield or Windsor Locks), although Providence is not much farther. Most people try to get a friend to drive them. Horizon Airport Shuttle carries passengers to and from the airport by reservation for $58 one way. For more information, call 860-429-8002.<br />
<br />
=== Local Services === <br />
<br />
The local banks include the New Alliance Bank (across from Grand Union), Bank of America (located near Grand Union), Liberty Bank (Route 195, south of campus), and People’s Bank (Storrs Plaza and in the Co-op). Payroll now offers direct deposit which could save you on bank fees; call payroll (486-2423) or talk to Lois Somers (Biology Central Services) for more information. <br />
<br />
The plazas on the south side of campus have two coin laundries. If you’re living in the grad dorms there are laundry facilities in the dorms. <br />
<br />
Stop, Copy and Mail offer bulk photocopying, along with a plethora of other copy-related services. It is located on Route 195, Storrs Plaza.<br />
<br />
== One final note ==<br />
<br />
Being a new graduate student can be a harrowing experience. We hope that this guide will help alleviate some of your fears and answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask your fellow students, staff, or faculty. As you learn from your own experiences here, jot notes in this handbook and then get them added to the next edition. This way those who follow can benefit from your experience as you did from your predecessors.<br />
The current EEB graduate students welcome you to UConn and the department.<br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Department Resources]] [[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Symposium_2013&diff=25261Graduate Student Symposium 20132013-03-06T15:41:39Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule */</p>
<hr />
<div><center> <big>''' <br />
== Saturday, March 9, 2013 == <br />
==== Biology/Physics Building Room 130, 9:00am to ~ 4:00pm ====<br />
'''</big> </center> <br><br />
<br><br />
The '''EEB Graduate Student Symposium''' is an all day event where graduate students present their research to other graduate students and faculty. Any EEB graduate student can present: BSMS, masters, PhD, old and new students. New graduate students usually present research ideas or preliminary data, while those more ‘seasoned’ students present their most recent results, often in preparation for upcoming spring and summer meetings. <br />
<br><br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Schedule==<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="80" align="center"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="120"|Speaker<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="450"|Title<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 8:30-9:00 || || Coffee, oh do we need coffee.<br />
|- <br />
| 9:00-9:15 || Dr. Sandra Chafouleas, Associate Dean of the Graduate School || Welcome Address <br />
|- <br />
| 9:15-9:30 || Kerri Mocko|| <br />
|- <br />
| 9:30-9:45 || Laura Cisneros|| Effects of Landscape Structure on Multiple Dimensions of Bat Biodiversity<br />
|- <br />
| 9:45-10:00 ||Kasey Pregler || Using occupancy models to evaluate gear bias: detection probabilities of bridle shiner using seines and electrofishing gear<br />
|- <br />
| 10:00-10:15 ||Bill Ryerson|| The medium matters: tongue-flicking mechanics in air and water in water snakes, ''Nerodia sipedon'' <br />
|- <br />
| 10:15-10:30 || Ben Olsen || TBA<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 10:30-11:00 || || '''Morning Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 11:00-11:15 || Jessie Rack || Tetrodotoxin: chemical defense or chemical cue?<br />
|- <br />
| 11:15-11:30 || Brigette Zacharczenko || Name that species! The guts and glory of taxonomy.<br />
|- <br />
| 11:30-11:45 ||Nora Mitchell & Tim Moore Pt 1 || Linking dimensions: functional traits and environmental variation in the Cape Floristic Region<br />
|- <br />
| 11:45-12:00 ||Nora Mitchell & Tim Moore Pt 2 || Linking dimensions: functional traits and environmental variation in the Cape Floristic Region<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 12:00-1:30 || || '''Lunch'''<br />
|- <br />
| 1:30-2:00 || Dr. Thomas Philbrick, Western Connecticut State University || Keynote Address - 20+ years after EEB: a funky life in academics<br />
|- <br />
| 2:00-2:15 ||Hamid Razifard|| Advances in understanding systematics and ecology of the mysterious aquatic plants: <i>Elatine</i> L. (waterworts)<br />
|- <br />
| 2:15-2:30 || Johana Goyes V. || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:30-2:45 || Simona Augyte || Macroalgal biodiverisity hotspot; the marine intertidal of northern Califonia/southern Oregon<br />
|- <br />
| 2:45-3:00 || Yingying Xie || Land surface phenology and climate variation: green-up of deciduous forest communities of northeastern North America<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 3:00-3:10 || || '''Afternoon Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:10-3:25 || Hayley Kilroy M. || Dimensions of space & time: Modelling demography of a South African shrub (Protea repens)<br />
|- <br />
| 3:25-3:40 || Ursula King || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" | 3:40-4:00 || || '''Speed Talks and Photo Contest'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:40-3:45 || Cera Fisher || TBA <br />
|- <br />
| 3:45-3:50 ||Sara Horwitz|| TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 3:50-3:55 || Michael Hutson || TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 3:55-4:00 || [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/2013_Biological_Photo_Contest Photo Contest Results] ||<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Abstracts==<br />
<br />
<span id="NAME">''' Presenter's name: Hamid Razifard'''</span><br />
<br> Title: Advances in understanding systematics and ecology of the mysterious aquatic plants: <i>Elatine</i> L. (waterworts) <br><br />
<br />
<p><br />
<i>Elatine </i>L. (Elatinaceae Dumortier; waterworts) is a cosmopolitan genus of about 25 aquatic plant species in the order Malpighiales. The genus is interesting taxonomically for two main reasons. First, no systematic studies have been made on the genus using recently available molecular techniques. Second, two species from this genus (<i>E. triandra </i>Schkhuhr and <i>E. ambigua</i> Wight) have been reported as invasive in recent decades. There, also, are indications of polyploidy in the invasive species, which make the genus particularly interesting from both ecological and systematic standpoints. Botanists disagree on the delimitation of several <i>Elatine</i> species. For example, descriptions provided for <i>E. americana </i>and <i>E. minima </i>in various floras often can be applied to either species. This problem results in a high degree of overlap for morphological characters used in such regional floristic treatments. In order to better distinguish each <i>Elatine</i> species, we assembled a data matrix of 37 morphological characters scored from more than 10 specimens per species. We analyzed the data using phenetic techniques (such as neighbor-joining) to search for potential discontinuities among taxa. In addition, we obtained new morphological characters using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the fine structure of <i>Elatine</i> seeds. Seed analysis using SEM indicated that several differences in seed surface morphology were potentially useful taxonomically, i.e.: length to width ratio, degree of seed curvature, and number of seed surface pits. These characters are promising for clarifying the taxonomy and systematic relationships of the genus at or above the species level.<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:gradsymposium.gif||Don't let this be you. Copyright Jorge Cham, PhD Comics]]</center><br />
[[Category:Graduate Research Symposium]]<br />
[[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]<br />
__NOTOC__</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Seminar_speaker_sign-up&diff=25238Seminar speaker sign-up2013-03-05T16:24:37Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Thursday, 7 March 2013 */</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Seminar Speaker: Annette Ostling''' <br><br />
'''Institution: University of Michigan''' <br><br />
'''Web site: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/eeb/directory/faculty/aostling<br><br />
'''Seminar Title: Towards more robust tests of the neutral theory of ecology<br><br />
'''Time and Place: 4 PM in BPB 130''' <br><br />
'''Faculty Contact: Rob Colwell (staying with Rob and Robin)''' <br><br><br />
<br />
==Thursday, 7 March 2013 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room'''<br />
|-<br />
| 8:30 a.m. ||Robin Chazdon || BioPharm 205C<br />
|-<br />
| 9:00 a.m. || John Silander || BioPharm 205D<br />
|-<br />
| 9:30 a.m. || Vanessa Boukili || BioPharm 219<br />
|-<br />
| 10:00 a.m. || Hayley Kilroy M. || BioPharm 223<br />
|-<br />
| 10:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 11:00 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 11:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 12:00 p.m. || Grad Lunch || TLS 171B (Bamford)<br />
|-<br />
| 1:30 p.m. || Chris Elphick || BioPharm 300A<br />
|-<br />
| 2:00 p.m. || Jenica Allen || TLS 466<br />
|-<br />
| 2:30 p.m. || Cory Merow || TLS 468<br />
|-<br />
| 3:00 p.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 3:30 p.m. || Colwell (and prep) || 375 TLS<br />
|-<br />
| 4:00 p.m. || Seminar || BPB 130<br />
|-<br />
| Dinner 5:30 p.m. || Rob Colwell, Robin Chazdon [join us!] || TBA<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Friday, 8 March 2013 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room'''<br />
|-<br />
| 8:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 9:00 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 9:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 10:00 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 10:30 a.m. || Mark Urban || BioPharm 200A<br />
|}</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Symposium_2013&diff=25219Graduate Student Symposium 20132013-03-04T15:30:34Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule */</p>
<hr />
<div><center> <big>''' <br />
== Saturday, March 9, 2013 == <br />
==== Biology/Physics Building Room 130, 9:00am to ~ 4:00pm ====<br />
'''</big> </center> <br><br />
<br><br />
The '''EEB Graduate Student Symposium''' is an all day event where graduate students present their research to other graduate students and faculty. Any EEB graduate student can present: BSMS, masters, PhD, old and new students. New graduate students usually present research ideas or preliminary data, while those more ‘seasoned’ students present their most recent results, often in preparation for upcoming spring and summer meetings. <br />
<br><br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Schedule==<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="80" align="center"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="120"|Speaker<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="450"|Title<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 8:30-9:00 || || Coffee, oh do we need coffee.<br />
|- <br />
| 9:00-9:15 || Dr. Sandra Chafouleas, Associate Dean of the Graduate School || Welcome Address <br />
|- <br />
| 9:15-9:30 || Kerri Mocko|| <br />
|- <br />
| 9:30-9:45 || Laura Cisneros|| Effects of Landscape Structure on Multiple Dimensions of Bat Biodiversity<br />
|- <br />
| 9:45-10:00 ||Kasey Pregler || Using occupancy models to evaluate gear bias: detection probabilities of bridle shiner using seines and electrofishing gear<br />
|- <br />
| 10:00-10:15 ||Bill Ryerson|| The medium matters: tongue-flicking mechanics in air and water in water snakes, ''Nerodia sipedon'' <br />
|- <br />
| 10:15-10:30 || Ben Olsen || TBA<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 10:30-11:00 || || '''Morning Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 11:00-11:15 || Jessie Rack || Tetrodotoxin: chemical defense or chemical cue?<br />
|- <br />
| 11:15-11:30 || Brigette Zacharczenko || TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 11:30-11:45 ||Nora Mitchell & Tim Moore Pt 1 || <br />
|- <br />
| 11:45-12:00 ||Nora Mitchell & Tim Moore Pt 2 || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 12:00-1:30 || || '''Lunch'''<br />
|- <br />
| 1:30-2:00 || Dr. Thomas Philbrick, Western Connecticut State University || Keynote Address - 20+ years after EEB: a funky life in academics<br />
|- <br />
| 2:00-2:15 ||Hamid Razifard|| Advances in understanding systematics and ecology of the mysterious aquatic plants: <i>Elatine</i> L. (waterworts)<br />
|- <br />
| 2:15-2:30 || Johana Goyes V. || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:30-2:45 || Simona Augyte || Macroalgal biodiverisity hotspot; the marine intertidal of northern Califonia/southern Oregon<br />
|- <br />
| 2:45-3:00 || Yingying Xie || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 3:00-3:10 || || '''Afternoon Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:10-3:25 || Hayley Kilroy M. || Modelling demography of a South African shrub (Protea repens) across space and time<br />
|- <br />
| 3:25-3:40 || Ursula King || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" | 3:40-4:00 || || '''Speed Talks and Photo Contest'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:40-3:45 || Cera Fisher || TBA <br />
|- <br />
| 3:45-3:50 ||Sara Horwitz|| TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 3:50-3:55 || Michael Hutson || TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 3:55-4:00 || Photo Contest Results ||<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Abstracts==<br />
<br />
<span id="NAME">''' Presenter's name: Hamid Razifard'''</span><br />
<br> Title: Advances in understanding systematics and ecology of the mysterious aquatic plants: <i>Elatine</i> L. (waterworts) <br><br />
<br />
<p><br />
<i>Elatine </i>L. (Elatinaceae Dumortier; waterworts) is a cosmopolitan genus of about 25 aquatic plant species in the order Malpighiales. The genus is interesting taxonomically for two main reasons. First, no systematic studies have been made on the genus using recently available molecular techniques. Second, two species from this genus (<i>E. triandra </i>Schkhuhr and <i>E. ambigua</i> Wight) have been reported as invasive in recent decades. There, also, are indications of polyploidy in the invasive species, which make the genus particularly interesting from both ecological and systematic standpoints. Botanists disagree on the delimitation of several <i>Elatine</i> species. For example, descriptions provided for <i>E. americana </i>and <i>E. minima </i>in various floras often can be applied to either species. This problem results in a high degree of overlap for morphological characters used in such regional floristic treatments. In order to better distinguish each <i>Elatine</i> species, we assembled a data matrix of 37 morphological characters scored from more than 10 specimens per species. We analyzed the data using phenetic techniques (such as neighbor-joining) to search for potential discontinuities among taxa. In addition, we obtained new morphological characters using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the fine structure of <i>Elatine</i> seeds. Seed analysis using SEM indicated that several differences in seed surface morphology were potentially useful taxonomically, i.e.: length to width ratio, degree of seed curvature, and number of seed surface pits. These characters are promising for clarifying the taxonomy and systematic relationships of the genus at or above the species level.<br />
<br />
<br><br />
<br />
</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:gradsymposium.gif||Don't let this be you. Copyright Jorge Cham, PhD Comics]]</center><br />
[[Category:Graduate Research Symposium]]<br />
[[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]<br />
__NOTOC__</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Symposium_2013&diff=24910Graduate Student Symposium 20132013-02-20T18:21:56Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Schedule */</p>
<hr />
<div><center> <big>''' <br />
== Saturday, March 9, 2013 == <br />
==== Biology/Physics Building Room 130, 9:00am to ~ 4:00pm ====<br />
'''</big> </center> <br><br />
<br><br />
The '''EEB Graduate Student Symposium''' is an all day event where graduate students present their research to other graduate students and faculty. Any EEB graduate student can present: BSMS, masters, PhD, old and new students. New graduate students usually present research ideas or preliminary data, while those more ‘seasoned’ students present their most recent results, often in preparation for upcoming spring and summer meetings. <br />
<br><br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Schedule==<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="80" align="center"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="120"|Speaker<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="450"|Title<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 8:30-9:00 || || Coffee, oh do we need coffee.<br />
|- <br />
| 9:00-9:15 || Dr. Sandra Chafouleas, Associate Dean of the Graduate School || Welcome Address <br />
|- <br />
| 9:15-9:30 || Kerri Mocko|| <br />
|- <br />
| 9:30-9:45 || Laura Cisneros|| Effects of Human-modified Landscapes on Multiple Dimensions of Bat Biodiversity<br />
|- <br />
| 9:45-10:00 ||Kasey Pregler || Using occupancy models to evaluate gear bias: detection probabilities of bridle shiner using seines and electrofishing gear<br />
|- <br />
| 10:00-10:15 ||Bill Ryerson|| <br />
|- <br />
| 10:15-10:30 || Jeff Divino || TBA<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 10:30-11:00 || || '''Morning Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 11:00-11:15 || Jessie Rack || Does predator-prey chemical communication evolve across a geographic landscape?<br />
|- <br />
| 11:15-11:30 || Brigette Zacharczenko || TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 11:30-11:45 ||Nora Mitchell & Tim Moore Pt 1 || <br />
|- <br />
| 11:45-12:00 ||Nora Mitchell & Tim Moore Pt 2 || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 12:00-1:30 || || '''Lunch'''<br />
|- <br />
| 1:30-2:00 || Dr. Thomas Philbrick, Western Connecticut State University || Keynote Address - 20+ years after EEB: a funky life in academics<br />
|- <br />
| 2:00-2:15 ||Hamid Razifard|| Working on a topic as cool as my plants. I'll let you know soon! <br />
|- <br />
| 2:15-2:30 || Johana Goyes V. || <br />
|- <br />
| 2:30-2:45 || Simona Augyte ||<br />
|- <br />
| 2:45-3:00 || Yingying Xie || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"| 3:00-3:10 || || '''Afternoon Break'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:10-3:25 || Hayley Kilroy M. || <br />
|- <br />
| 3:25-3:40 || || <br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" | 3:40-4:00 || || '''Speed Talks and Photo Contest'''<br />
|- <br />
| 3:40-3:45 || Cera Fisher || TBA <br />
|- <br />
| 3:45-3:50 ||Sara Horwitz|| TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 3:50-3:55 || Michael Hutson || TBA<br />
|- <br />
| 3:55-4:00 || Photo Contest Results ||<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<center>[[Image:picheader1.gif]]</center><br />
<br />
__NOEDITSECTION__<br />
<br />
==Abstracts==<br />
<br />
<span id="NAME">''' Name'''</span><br />
<br> Title <br><br />
Abstract<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><br />
----<br />
<center>[[Image:gradsymposium.gif||Don't let this be you. Copyright Jorge Cham, PhD Comics]]</center><br />
[[Category:Graduate Research Symposium]]<br />
[[Category:Graduate Student Resources]]<br />
__NOTOC__</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=153953&diff=248651539532013-02-18T20:40:47Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Tuesday, 19 February 2013 */</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Faculty Contact: John Silander''' <br><br><br />
<br />
Mark Urban will meet at BDL at 10:32 am, Monday 18th Feb and bring to campus<br />
<br />
==Monday, 18 February 2013 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room'''<br />
|-<br />
| 10:32 a.m. || Arrival at BDL || Air Canada 7294<br />
|-<br />
| 11:30 a.m. || Cindi Jones || PharmBio 400<br />
|-<br />
| 12:00 p.m. || Cindi Jones, Elizabeth Jockusch, Andy Bush || Lunch<br />
|-<br />
| 1:00 p.m. || Graduate students || Bamford TLS 171B<br />
|-<br />
| 2:00 p.m. || Eric Schultz || PharmBio 205B <br />
|-<br />
| 2:30 p.m. || John Silander || PharmBio 205D <br />
|-<br />
| 3:00 p.m. || Carl Schlichting || TLS 366<br />
|-<br />
| 3:30 p.m. || Seminar prep || <br />
|-<br />
| 4:00 p.m. || Seminar || BPB 131<br />
|-<br />
| 5:30 p.m. || Mike Willig || CESE <br />
|-<br />
| Dinner 7:00 p.m. || Mark Urban, John Silander, Eric Schultz|| <br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Tuesday, 19 February 2013 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room'''<br />
|-<br />
| 7:30 a.m. || David Wagner, Chris Elphick || Breakfast, Nathan Hale Inn<br />
|-<br />
| 9:00 a.m. || Chalk talk || BPB 201<br />
|-<br />
| 10:00 a.m. ||Elizabeth Jockusch || BioPharm 305B<br />
|-<br />
| 10:30 a.m. || Hayley Kilroy M || BioPharm 223<br />
|-<br />
| 11:00 p.m. || Bernard Goffinet || BioPharm 300<br />
|-<br />
| 11:30 p.m. ||Don Les || Pharm Bio 305C<br />
|-<br />
| 12:00 p.m. || Bernard Goffinet, Rob Colwell || lunch<br />
|-<br />
| 1:00 p.m. || Rob Colwell || 375 TLS<br />
|-<br />
| 1:30 p.m. || Charlie Henry || TLS 479/481<br />
|-<br />
| 2:00 p.m. || Eldridge Adams || Pharm Bio 205A<br />
|-<br />
| 2:30 p.m. || Chris Elphick || Will take to Austin<br />
|-<br />
| 3:00 p.m. || Assoc. Dean Michelle Williams || Austin (CLAS) 401 <br />
|-<br />
| 3:30 p.m. || David Wagner || TLS 471<br />
|-<br />
| 4:00 p.m. || Cory Merow || TLS 468<br />
|-<br />
| 4:30 p.m. || Kent Wells || TLS 380<br />
|-<br />
| 5:30 p.m. || depart for airport || w/ John Silander<br />
|}</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Seminar_speaker_sign-up&diff=23727Seminar speaker sign-up2012-11-15T22:15:06Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Friday, 16 November 2012 */</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Seminar Speaker: H. Resit Akçakaya''' <br><br />
'''Institution: Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University''' <br><br />
'''Web site: [http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/akcakayalab/index.htm click here] <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Seminar Title: Species Extinction Risks under Climate Change: Interacting effects of demographic and spatial factors<br><br />
'''Faculty Contact: Chris Elphick''' <br><br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Thursday, 15 November 2012 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room''' <br />
|-<br />
| 12:30 p.m. || Graduate student lunch || Bamford <br />
|-<br />
| 1:30 p.m. || Chris Field || BioPharm 310<br />
|-<br />
| 2:30 p.m. || Kevin Burgio || BioPharm 402<br />
|-<br />
| 3:00 p.m. || Robin Chazdon|| BioPharm 205C<br />
|-<br />
| 3:30 p.m. || Refreshments || Bamford<br />
|-<br />
| 4:00 p.m. || Seminar || Biophysics 130<br />
|-<br />
| Dinner 6:00 p.m. || Chris Elphick, .... || <br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Friday, 16 November 2012 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room''' <br />
|-<br />
| 7:30 a.m. || Breakfast with Margaret Rubega, ... || Tolland Inn <br />
|-<br />
| 9:00 a.m. || John Silander || BioPharm 205D<br />
|-<br />
|9:30 a.m. || David Wagner || TLS 471<br />
|-<br />
| 10:00 a.m. || Jenica Allen || TLS 466<br />
|-<br />
| 10:30 a.m. || Hayley Kilroy || BioPharm 223 <br />
|-<br />
| 11:00 a.m. || ||<br />
|-<br />
| 11:30 a.m. || Rob Colwell || TLS 375</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Seminar_speaker_sign-up&diff=22765Seminar speaker sign-up2012-09-14T17:45:18Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Thursday, 20 September 2012 */</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Seminar Speaker: Rick Ree''' <br><br />
'''Institution: Field Museum of Natural History''' <br><br />
'''Web site: [http://www.reelab.net/home/] <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Seminar Title: The evolution of floral diversity in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae) ''' <br><br />
'''Faculty or Student Contact: Chris Simon''' <br />
<br />
==Thursday, 20 September 2012 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room''' <br />
|-<br />
| 8:00 a.m. || Don Les (breakfast) || Tolland Inn<br />
|-<br />
| 9:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 10:00 a.m. || Chris Owen || BioPharm 323<br />
|-<br />
| 10:30 a.m. || Chris Owen || BioPharm 323<br />
|-<br />
| 11:00 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 11:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 12:00 p.m. || Graduate students lunch || Bamford<br />
|-<br />
| 1:00 p.m. || Silander lab students/postdocs || BioPharm 223<br />
|-<br />
| 1:30 p.m. || Silander lab students/postdocs || BioPharm 223<br />
|-<br />
| 2:00 p.m. || Cynthia Jones || BioPharm 400 <br />
|-<br />
| 2:30 p.m. || Carl Schlichting || TLS 366<br />
|-<br />
| 3:00 p.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 3:30 p.m. || coffee & cookies || Bamford Room <br />
|-<br />
| 4:00 p.m. || Seminar: "The evolution of floral diversity in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae)"|| BPB 130<br />
|-<br />
| Dinner 6:00 p.m. ||Dinner-- Please RSVP|| Chris Simon, Elizabeth Jockusch, Cindi Jones, Louise Lewis, Paul Lewis, Colin Carlson|-<br />
<br />
<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Friday, 21 Sept 2012 ==<br />
{|border=1 cellpadding=8<br />
| '''Time''' || '''Name''' || '''Room''' <br />
|-<br />
| 8:00 a.m. || Breakfast at Tolland Inn- Chris Simon || <br />
|-<br />
| 9:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 10:00 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 10:30 a.m. || || <br />
|-<br />
| 11:00 a.m. ||Informal Seminar: "Prospects and Challenges for Parametric Models in Historical Biogeography"|| Bamford Room<br />
|-<br />
| 12:00 p.m. || Lunch- Simon Lab || <br />
|-<br />
| 1:30 p.m. || Meet Chris Simon, Ben Price & others in Simon Lab || <br />
|-<br />
| 3:00 p.m. || Leave for Airport || <br />
<br />
|-<br />
|}</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22734Green Grads2012-09-12T14:22:27Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Upcoming Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreengrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 19th<br><br />
4 PM<br><br />
Arjona room 317<br><br />
We'll have cookies!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
Please add your name to the [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pet2Lib3M5OgY4CI81g6wp61lfSja377nUao3l7WGMM/edit sign-up sheet]!.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Willimantic Food Co-Op Book Club'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 30, 2012<br><br />
3-4:30 pm at the [http://willimanticfood.coop/ Co-Op]<br><br />
The Willimantic Food Co-Op Book Club meets the last Sunday of every month to discuss environmental books. This month's book is Deep Economy by Bill McKibben. We'll try to arrange a carpool from Storrs for anyone who would like to go. The UConn library has a copy of the book, or you can request it through ILL, or ask if you can borrow Hayley's copy.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''4. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
'''5. Walktober'''<br><br />
Date: All October!<br><br />
You can find a brochure of all the hikes sponsored by The Last Green Valley [http://www.tlgv.org/resources/walktober2012.html here].<br><br />
We'll select one weekend hike to carpool to as a group, and will email reminders about nearby hikes.<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreengrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
'''Our Constitution:'''<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf Green Grads Constitution]<br><br />
The Constitution was amended and approved in April 2012. The previous Constitution and Bylaws (from 2008) were combined and altered to reflect new requirements for UConn student organizations.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22616Green Grads2012-09-05T15:10:59Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Upcoming Events */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreengrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Willimantic Food Co-Op Book Club'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 30, 2012<br><br />
3-4:30 pm at the [http://willimanticfood.coop/ Co-Op]<br><br />
The Willimantic Food Co-Op Book Club meets the last Sunday of every month to discuss environmental books. This month's book is Deep Economy by Bill McKibben. We'll try to arrange a carpool from Storrs for anyone who would like to go. The UConn library has a copy of the book, or you can request it through ILL, or ask if you can borrow Hayley's copy.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''4. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
'''5. Walktober'''<br><br />
Date: All October!<br><br />
You can find a brochure of all the hikes sponsored by The Last Green Valley [http://www.tlgv.org/resources/walktober2012.html here].<br><br />
We'll select one weekend hike to carpool to as a group, and will email reminders about nearby hikes.<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreengrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
'''Our Constitution:'''<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf Green Grads Constitution]<br><br />
The Constitution was amended and approved in April 2012. The previous Constitution and Bylaws (from 2008) were combined and altered to reflect new requirements for UConn student organizations.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22615Green Grads2012-09-05T15:02:00Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Contact */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreengrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreengrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
'''Our Constitution:'''<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf Green Grads Constitution]<br><br />
The Constitution was amended and approved in April 2012. The previous Constitution and Bylaws (from 2008) were combined and altered to reflect new requirements for UConn student organizations.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22614Green Grads2012-09-05T15:01:46Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Announcements */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreengrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
'''Our Constitution:'''<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf Green Grads Constitution]<br><br />
The Constitution was amended and approved in April 2012. The previous Constitution and Bylaws (from 2008) were combined and altered to reflect new requirements for UConn student organizations.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22579Green Grads2012-08-31T17:49:33Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Contact */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
'''Our Constitution:'''<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf Green Grads Constitution]<br><br />
The Constitution was amended and approved in April 2012. The previous Constitution and Bylaws (from 2008) were combined and altered to reflect new requirements for UConn student organizations.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22578Green Grads2012-08-31T17:47:48Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
==Links==<br />
'''Our Constitution:'''<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf Green Grads Constitution]<br><br />
The Constitution was amended and approved in April 2012. The previous Constitution and Bylaws (from 2008) were combined and altered to reflect new requirements for UConn student organizations.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22577Green Grads2012-08-31T17:46:50Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Links & Other Stuff */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
==Links==<br />
'''Our Constitution:'''<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf] <br><br />
The Constitution was amended and approved in April 2012. The previous Constitution and Bylaws (from 2008) were combined and altered to reflect new requirements for UConn student organizations.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf&diff=22576File:Green-Grads-Constitution-2012.pdf2012-08-31T17:39:21Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: Constitution approved by the Green Grads on April 5, 2012</p>
<hr />
<div>Constitution approved by the Green Grads on April 5, 2012</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22574Green Grads2012-08-31T17:30:51Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Announcements */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
Photos from Give & Go 2012 are now posted at UConntact! See the album [https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads/gallery/album/17208 here].<br><br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
==Links & Other Stuff==<br />
'''Our Constitution and Bylaws:'''<br><br />
Note: our Constitution was updated in May 2012; the new version will be posted soon. The previous documents are below:<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/0c/Green-Grads-Constitution-May08.pdf Green Grads Constitution] <br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6b/Green-Grads-Bylaws-May08.pdf Green Grads Bylaws]<br />
both amended in May 2008 - OEP liaison position added to the Bylaws and grant acquisition added as a funding option in the Constitution.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22573Green Grads2012-08-31T17:15:15Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Links & Other Stuff */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
==Links & Other Stuff==<br />
'''Our Constitution and Bylaws:'''<br><br />
Note: our Constitution was updated in May 2012; the new version will be posted soon. The previous documents are below:<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/0c/Green-Grads-Constitution-May08.pdf Green Grads Constitution] <br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6b/Green-Grads-Bylaws-May08.pdf Green Grads Bylaws]<br />
both amended in May 2008 - OEP liaison position added to the Bylaws and grant acquisition added as a funding option in the Constitution.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22572Green Grads2012-08-31T17:14:50Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Links & Other Stuff */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
==Links & Other Stuff==<br />
'''Our Constitution and Bylaws:'''<br><br />
Note: our Constitution was updated in May 2012; the new version will be posted soon. The previous documents are below:<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/0c/Green-Grads-Constitution-May08.pdf Green Grads Constitution] <br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6b/Green-Grads-Bylaws-May08.pdf Green Grads Bylaws]<br />
both amended in May 2008 - OEP liaison position added to the Bylaws and grant acquisition added as a funding option in the Constitution.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum in bins around campus<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)<br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br></div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22571Green Grads2012-08-31T17:14:01Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Links & Other Stuff */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
==Links & Other Stuff==<br />
'''Our Constitution and Bylaws:'''<br><br />
Note: our Constitution was updated in May 2012; the new version will be posted soon. The previous documents are below:<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/0c/Green-Grads-Constitution-May08.pdf Green Grads Constitution] <br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6b/Green-Grads-Bylaws-May08.pdf Green Grads Bylaws]<br />
both amended in May 2008 - OEP liaison position added to the Bylaws and grant acquisition added as a funding option in the Constitution.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle all plastics labeled 1-7 in departmental bins<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)<br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* [http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/11/recycling-at-uconn-just-got-easier/ Single-Stream Recycling at UConn]<br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br></div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22570Green Grads2012-08-31T17:11:20Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:World.png|250px|right]]'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn graduate students'''<br />
We are commited to:<br><br />
*Environmentally-responsible recreation<br />
*Promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The well-being of the environment and the people who depend upon it, locally and globally <br><br />
<br />
<br />
==Announcements==<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br><br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br />
==Upcoming Events==<br />
<br />
'''1. Information & Organization Meeting!'''<br><br />
Wednesday, Sept. 5th<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
Bamford Room<br><br />
(Room 171b in the Torrey Life Sciences building)<br><br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br><br />
<br><br />
'''2. Mansfield Festival on the Green'''<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br />
'''3. Mansfield Natural Areas Volunteer Day'''<br><br />
Date: an upcoming Saturday, TBA<br><br />
<br><br />
==Contact==<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[[Hayley Kilroy]] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br><br />
==Links & Other Stuff==<br />
'''Our Constitution and Bylaws:'''<br><br />
Note: our Constitution was updated in May 2012; the new version will be posted soon. The previous documents are below:<br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/0c/Green-Grads-Constitution-May08.pdf Green Grads Constitution] <br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6b/Green-Grads-Bylaws-May08.pdf Green Grads Bylaws]<br />
both amended in May 2008 - OEP liaison position added to the Bylaws and grant acquisition added as a funding option in the Constitution.<br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle all plastics labeled 1-7 in departmental bins<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)<br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br></div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Hayley_Kilroy&diff=22569Hayley Kilroy2012-08-31T16:27:10Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: </p>
<hr />
<div><span style="font-size: large">PhD Student</span><br><br><br />
'''Office:''' BioPharm 223 <br> <br />
<br />
'''Phone:''' 860-486-4157 <br> <br />
<br />
'''E-mail:''' hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu <br> <br />
<br />
'''Mailing address: '''<br> <br />
<br />
Hayley Kilroy M. <br> <br />
The University of Connecticut <br> <br />
75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043 <br> <br />
Storrs, CT 06269-3043, U.S.A. <br> <br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Graduate Students|Kilroy]] [[Category:EEB People|Kilroy]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22568Green Grads2012-08-31T16:21:10Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn Graduate Students. We are committed to:<br />
[[Image:World.png|350px|right]]<br><br />
*Environmentally-Mindful Recreation<br />
<br />
*Promoting Environmental Awareness and Sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The Well-Being of the Environment and the People who Depend upon it, Locally and Globally<br />
''' <br><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===Announcements===<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br><br />
'''Upcoming Events!'''<br><br />
<br />
1. INFORMATION MEETING!<br><br />
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
BAMFORD ROOM<br><br />
(ROOM 171B IN THE TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING)<br><br />
<br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Mansfield Festival on the Green<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br><br />
===Contact===<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
[Hayley Kilroy] (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br />
<br><br><br><br />
<br />
'''Our Constitution and Bylaws:'''<br><br />
Note: our Constitution was updated in May 2012; the new version will be posted soon. The previous documents are below:<br><br />
<br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/0c/Green-Grads-Constitution-May08.pdf Green Grads Constitution] <br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6b/Green-Grads-Bylaws-May08.pdf Green Grads Bylaws]<br />
both amended in May 2008 - OEP liaison position added to the Bylaws and grant acquisition added as a funding option in the Constitution.<br />
<br><br><br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle all plastics labeled 1-7 in departmental bins<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)<br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br></div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Hayley_Kilroy&diff=22567Hayley Kilroy2012-08-31T16:19:46Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: Created page with "<span style="font-size: large">PhD Student</span><br><br> '''Office:''' BioPharm 223 <br> '''Voice:''' 860-486-4157 <br> '''E-mail:''' hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu <br> '''Ma..."</p>
<hr />
<div><span style="font-size: large">PhD Student</span><br><br><br />
'''Office:''' BioPharm 223 <br> <br />
<br />
'''Voice:''' 860-486-4157 <br> <br />
<br />
'''E-mail:''' hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu <br> <br />
<br />
'''Mailing address: '''<br> <br />
<br />
Hayley Kilroy M. <br> <br />
The University of Connecticut <br> <br />
75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043 <br> <br />
Storrs, CT 06269-3043, U.S.A. <br> <br />
<br />
[[Category:EEB Graduate Students|Kilroy]] [[Category:EEB People|Kilroy]]</div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Green_Grads&diff=22566Green Grads2012-08-31T16:07:54Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''Green Grads are a group of environmentally-aware, environmentally-active UConn Graduate Students. We are committed to:<br />
[[Image:World.png|350px|right]]<br><br />
*Environmentally-Mindful Recreation<br />
<br />
*Promoting Environmental Awareness and Sustainability, on- and off-campus<br />
<br />
*The Well-Being of the Environment and the People who Depend upon it, Locally and Globally<br />
''' <br><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===Announcements===<br />
<br />
To be added to the Green Grads email list, please send an email to [mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
Our UConntact page: https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/greengrads<br><br />
We are currently not maintaining a roster on UConntact, but you may join there if you wish.<br><br />
<br><br><br />
'''Upcoming Events!'''<br><br />
<br />
1. INFORMATION MEETING!<br><br />
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH<br><br />
3:30 PM<br><br />
BAMFORD ROOM<br><br />
(ROOM 171B IN THE TORREY LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING)<br><br />
<br />
JOIN US FOR PIZZA AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Mansfield Festival on the Green<br><br />
Sunday, September 23, 2012<br><br />
Noon - 5:00 pm<br><br />
In front of E.O. Smith High School<br><br />
Website: http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/6522/7898/default.aspx<br><br />
<br />
We're helping keep this a low-waste event by sending volunteers to man the waste stations, to direct people to recycling and composting.<br><br />
We'll have a volunteer sign-up sheet at the Sept. 5th meeting, or email Hayley ([mailto:hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu]).<br><br />
<br><br><br />
===Contact===<br />
[mailto:uconngreengrads@gmail.com uconngreedgrads@gmail.com]<br />
<br><br />
or see the officer list below.<br />
<br><br />
<br><br />
Faculty Advisor: [[Eric Schultz]]<br />
<br><br />
'''Officers:'''<br><br />
Hayley Kilroy M. (Chairperson)<br><br />
Alyssa Borowske (Secretary)<br><br />
Kasey Pregler (Treasurer) <br><br />
<br />
<br><br><br><br />
<br />
'''Our Constitution and Bylaws:'''<br><br />
Note: our Constitution was updated in May 2012; the new version will be posted soon. The previous documents are below:<br><br />
<br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/0/0c/Green-Grads-Constitution-May08.pdf Green Grads Constitution] <br><br />
* [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/6/6b/Green-Grads-Bylaws-May08.pdf Green Grads Bylaws]<br />
both amended in May 2008 - OEP liaison position added to the Bylaws and grant acquisition added as a funding option in the Constitution.<br />
<br><br><br><br />
<br><br />
'''Things YOU can do TODAY:'''<br />
* Conserve energy - take shorter showers, turn off your computer at night, etc.<br />
* Print and copy on both sides of the page<br />
* Recycle all plastics labeled 1-7 in departmental bins<br />
* Take the stairs, not the elevator<br />
* Ride the bus/carpool<br />
* Spread the word :)<br />
<br><br />
'''Green Links''' <br><br />
* http://www.greenerchoices.org/ <br><br />
* http://www.storyofstuff.com/ <br></div>Hayley Kilroyhttp://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php?title=Give_and_Go_signup&diff=21962Give and Go signup2012-04-30T20:06:27Z<p>Hayley Kilroy: /* Volunteer Sign-Up for Friday, May 4, 2012 */</p>
<hr />
<div>Green Grads is sponsoring two Give & Go tents on Friday of finals week this year. Sign up for a two-hour shift (or two!). Both tents will be located near the North Residence Halls (across the street from TLS).<br />
<br />
<br />
==Volunteer Sign-Up for Friday, May 4, 2012 ==<br />
<br />
{| border="1" cellpadding="8" align="left"<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="75" align="center"|<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200" align="center"|North 1<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200" align="center"|North 1<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200" align="center"|North 2<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200" align="center"|North 2<br />
|- <br />
!style="background:#efefef;"|Time<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200"|Person 1<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200"|Person 2<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200"|Person 1<br />
!style="background:#efefef;" width="200"|Person 2<br />
|-<br />
| 10-12 || Hayley Kilroy || Veronica || || <br />
|- <br />
| 12-2 || Hayley Kilroy || James || || <br />
|- <br />
| 2-4 || Hayley Kilroy || Alyssa || James || Holly<br />
|- <br />
<br />
|}</div>Hayley Kilroy