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Graduate Manual: 2009 - 2010
General Information
WE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING NEW GRADUATE STUDENTS
Ernest Amouzou, Neilya Beisenkhanova, Erin Casey, Aaron Christian, Bret Davis, Michael Freed, Chris Lowder, Jared Rice, Maxim Shchemelinin, Geoff Wicks
KEYS
A Key Requisition is in your mailbox. Take the requisition to the Plew Building, located at 6th and Grant Streets. Keys can be picked up from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday. Be sure to take a picture I.D. with you.
PHYSICS ADMINISTRATION STAFF
Sarah Barutha – Department Manager
Margaret Jarrett – Graduate Program Coordinator, receptionist, student affairs
Jeremy Gay – Computer Systems Manager
Sherry Heis – Fiscal and Operations Manager
Brian Kay – Travel Coordinator
SHOPS AND SERVICES STAFF
Norm Williams – Machine Shop Supervisor
Bo Glaspey – Electronics Shop Supervisor
Jerry DiMarco – Instructional Lab Supervisor
Please see these individuals regarding their policies and procedures.
Mail, handouts, and other information will be in your mailboxes in the front office. The bulletin boards inside and outside of the main office contain information on registration, courses, colloquia, and other events of interest. Of special interest to you will be items listed under headlines “TODAY”, “THIS WEEK, and “GRAD STUDENTS” – you are responsible for being aware of what has been posted each day. Margaret Jarrett is in charge of Student Affairs and will be glad to be of assistance to you. She keeps many of the forms you will need in order to register, apply, submit or whatever to keep the cogs turning.
In addition the department communicates information via electronic mail. It is important that you apply for a computer account and set up email services. The department also maintains a World Wide Web page, http://www.physics.montana.edu and encourages you to create a personal home page to be linked to the Physics departmental page. Please see Jeremy Gay for information regarding computer account setup and web page creation. Also, every student at MSU has a campus account, set-up as follows: . You are responsible for checking this site for University announcements.
EVENINGS, HOLIDAYS, and WEEKENDS POLICY: ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS TO BE IN THE EPS BUILDING DURING THESE TIMES EXCEPT FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ISSUED KEYS. DO NOT LET ANYONE IN! NON-PHYSICS PERSONNEL ARE NOT TO USE THE COMPUTER ROOM! ANYONE WHO BELONGS IN THE BUILDING HAS A KEY. There is NO access to the main office, unless you have the proper level key.
ALL TAs – Give Margaret J. your Schedule Cards by August 21st. Please note that your teaching assignments are contingent upon receipt of your schedules.
INFORMATION pertinent to graduate school is online; pertinent to the Department is the departmental handout, “Physics Graduate Manual”, also accessible online.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT – Contact the Registrar’s Office (ask for Bonnie) immediately to begin establishing Montana residency (for U.S. citizens only). You must immediately get a Montana drivers license, voter registration, car registration, etc.. This is extremely important for GTAs, as you are granted only one year of out-of-state incidental fee waiver. This is solely your responsibility – you must do the foot/paperwork. *This applies if you are taking the 6-credit route (be sure to talk with the Graduate Committee and your Graduate Representatives).
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS – All new foreign students must apply for a social security card. Office of International Programs (Culbertson Hall, Room 400) will provide the time requirements (usually you need to wait 10 days before you can apply) and application form to submit to the Social Security office at 3205 North 27th Avenue (phone: 586-4501). After you receive your social security number, leave a copy of the card with Sarah (physics office) and Payroll (Montana Hall, Room 18). Until you receive your social security number, you will receive a paycheck; however, it will be taxed at a higher rate.
GRADUATE OFFICE (108 Montana Hall) – Become familiar with this office – you will interact with them frequently. Your Graduate Committee Forms and Graduate Program Forms must be filed with this office. Refer to the Division of Graduate Education http://www.montana.edu/wwwdg/ online.
PAYROLL SEVICES – Room 19 Montana Hall processes your monthly paychecks. Domestic students: Should have already filled out forms for income taxes, employment eligibility, etc. Foreign students: Report to the Office of International Education, room 400 Culbertson, to obtain these forms; turn them in to the Payroll Services Office.
STUDENT FACILITIES - A desk, chair, file drawer with key, surge protector, wastebasket, coat hook, network connection, and two book crates are provided in each assigned cubicle. Please treat these items and your space with care and respect, as they must be used for many years to come. Do NOT change cubicles or rooms unless your request is approved by Sarah. Please respect the rights and privacy of others, and be aware of potential security problems. If you bring in a computer for your desk, please see Jeremy Gay for assistance in setting it up on the network. When unoccupied, keep office doors locked to avoid theft.
DEPARTMENT CUSTODIAN – Cleans the floors and empties the wastebaskets (must be left out in the hall). Each student is responsible for keeping individual cubicles neat and clean.
DAYTON CONFERENCE ROOM (258 EPS) - This room is used for faculty meetings, seminars, and oral exams. It is available by reservation – see Margaret in the front office. Please treat this room gently. Clean boards and tables when you are leaving, and make sure lights are off.
SEMINAR ROOM (235 EPS) – Formerly the Department Library. You will find a variety of job notices posted here for post-graduate positions. This room is also used for small meetings when the conference room is in use - see Margaret for reservations.
COMPUTER ACCOUNTS – See Jeremy Gay to open a computer account. Computers are available in Room 230 for your use.
COMPUTER ROOM (Room 230) – The computers in this room are for the use of Physics students to perform research and other tasks related to their education here at MSU. Any questions regarding use or upkeep of the computers should be directed to Jeremy Gay.
PHOTOCOPIES – Photocopied material, for anything unrelated to your teaching duties, is 7 cents per copy. Pay Margaret Jarrett.
TELESCOPE CHECKOUT – The Department has a variety of telescopes available to be checked out for hosting star parties or for personal star viewing. A short training program is required to use this checkout system. Afterwards, a key can be checked out from Jerry DiMarco (manager of demos and instructional labs) in AJM 124. For more information, contact Tom Rust at x6718 or Jerry at x6161.
HEALTH SERVICES –Student Health Insurance is mandatory if you register for more than 6 credits; insurance fees will be waived if you show proof of other insurance. When you register for more than 6 credits, your health and dental fees entitle you to use the Student Health Services. Call them at x2311 or Student Insurance at x3199 for details. You must request health and dental insurance coverage when you register.
CREDITS – All graduate students must register for a minimum of nine credits each semester unless exempted by the Graduate Committee. Also, you must register for at least nine credits or social security taxes will be withheld from RA and TA stipends. You must have at least 6 credits to qualify for fee waivers during the academic year (review pros and cons with Graduate Committee!). Students seeking residency will be allowed to register for 6 credits during their first academic year.
GTA ASSIGNMENTS – These are made the first few days of classes each semester.
PERSONAL MAIL – Must be sent to home addresses.
ADDRESS – Give local address and telephone number to Margaret Jarrett.
NO SMOKING – The EPS building has been designated a “no smoking” building.
MSU TELEPHONE POLICY – University telephone equipment is state property. As such, state telecommunications equipment is provided for official state business. Certain exceptions, however, are allowed. Employees may use state telephones for local and long distance calls to latch-key children, teachers, doctors, day-care centers and baby sitters, to family members to inform them of unexpected schedule changes, and for other essential personal business. When employees need to make a personal long distance call for one of the purposes described above, long-distance service access may be made by entering 9 + 0 + the area code + the phone number. The caller must then reverse the charges, charge to a third party (non MSU number) or charge to a personal telephone calling card. Third party calls are not allowed. In no instance should a personal call be made using the state network, even if the state is subsequently reimbursed.
ACCESS TO MAIN OFFICE (264 EPS) – The key you have been issued gives you access to the EPS building, your office, and various controlled-access rooms. You will NOT have access to the main office outside of normal business hours (M-F, 8-5, closed over the noon hour).
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