Graduate Student Survival Guide

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Last Updated: Fall 2006

Contents

Introduction

Hello and welcome to ATOC! The purpose of this ATOC Graduate Student Survival Guide is to provide first year graduate students with all the useful tidbits and details that frequently fall through the cracks of more traditional orientation activities and talks. To create this packet, veteran ATOC students got together and made a list of all the things they wish they had been told (or had been made more explicit) when they were new to ATOC; this guide is based on that list. We hope this guide will be at least somewhat useful to you over the next few months and that you enjoy your time as part of the ATOC community.

Please feel free to edit and improve as you see fit!

Useful Information for Life in ATOC

Registration

When you join the Graduate Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC), you will be assigned two of our current faculty members as your Academic Advisors. These advisors are intended to introduce you to our program and get you started on your coursework requirements. You should receive the names of your advisors from the Graduate Program Assistant in late spring or early summer. In order to register for classes for both the fall and spring semesters of your first year, you will need to speak to one or both of these advisors. A block will be placed on your registration access until you have your advisors’ approval. This is usually accomplished over the summer months via telephone and email before you even arrive in Boulder.

The easiest way to register or check your CU account information is via the web at: http://www.colorado.edu/plus

All available classes offered each semester from each department are located on this site, as are your current schedule, grades, unofficial transcript, account balance, your current health insurance and other available plans. You may also change your address and phone number w/ the University through this site. To access this web page you will need your student identification number and a "pin" number. If you do not already know your pin number either stop by the Office of the Registrar in Regent 105 with a picture ID or call 303-492-6970.

Graduate Student Orientation

The ATOC Graduate Student Orientation is currently scheduled on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 from 8:30am until approximately noon. It is MANDATORY for all new ATOC graduate students. Please plan on being in Boulder on this date and attending this event!

In addition, you are required to meet in person with your Academic Advisors by the end of the first week of classes. You most likely have already had contact with them over the summer in order to register for classes. This is an opportune time to discuss any questions or concerns that you have.

You may also want to attend the UGGS (United Government of Graduate Students) New Graduate Student Orientation scheduled for Monday, August 21, 2006. You can find more information at http://uggs.colorado.edu.

If you will be working as a Teaching Assistant, you may also want to attend some of the workshops offered by the Graduate Teacher Program during their Fall Intensive Program from August 23-25. You can find more information at http://www.colorado.edu/gtp/events/fall.html.

Tuition Classification (Residency)

For information about tuition classification, call the automated phone service at 303-492-6868. Information on petitioning for in-state tuition classification, as defined by Colorado law, is printed in the tuition classification guidelines available from the Tuition Classification Office, Regent 105. The guidelines are also available on the web at:

http://registrar.colorado.edu/Support/Residency/Residency.htm

Read the guidelines carefully, and be certain you understand the petition process and deadlines. If you have questions about your particular circumstances, call 303-492-0907 to make an appointment with a staff member. In brief: In-state status will be required after one year for all students supported by the department. In-state status requires domicile (legal, primary residence) in Colorado for the year immediately preceding the first day of class. The only exceptions to the one-year domicile requirement, as provided by law, are for active-duty military personnel on permanent duty station in Colorado and for Olympic athletes in training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Domicile is defined as your true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation. Domicile is a legal characteristic that everyone has, and you can have only one domicile at any one time. Your domicile is your legal, primary residence.

Colorado Domicile

The tuition classification officer considers the following evidence, as specified by law, and any additional relevant information, when evaluating requests for in-state tuition. Because domicile is defined as a true, fixed, and permanent home, individuals who are physically present in Colorado only on a temporary basis cannot establish domicile merely by taking these actions. Establishing a new domicile requires actual residence on a permanent basis.

  • Payment of Colorado state income tax (if your income is sufficient to be taxed). All taxable income accrued after you move to Colorado, regardless of source, must be reported to the Colorado Department of Revenue. You should file part-year resident returns for each state of residence for the year you move into Colorado. For subsequent years, you should file a full-year resident Colorado return and a nonresident return for any other state in which you are required to file. For additional information, contact the Colorado Department of Revenue, 1375 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203; http://www.revenue.state.co.us/ KEEP COPIES!
  • Colorado drivers license. If you have a driver’s license from another state, you must apply for a Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of moving to Colorado (if you are employed) or within 120 days (if unemployed). DO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! (used for proof of time in living in Colorado). These grace periods apply only to the date you first move to Colorado. If you do not drive, you may obtain a Colorado identification card. These documents are available from the Drivers License Division, located in Boulder at 28th Street and Iris Avenue, telephone 303-442-3006.
  • Colorado vehicle registration. If you operate a motor vehicle, you must register it in Colorado within 30 days of moving to Colorado. This grace period applies only to the date you first move to Colorado. This law applies to any vehicle you have, whether or not you are the registered owner. Contact your county clerk for vehicle registration. Boulder County vehicle registration information is available from the County Clerk, located at 1750 33rd Street in Boulder; telephone 303-413-7710.
  • Voter registration in Colorado. You may register to vote with your county clerk as soon as you move into the state or when you obtain a Colorado driver’s license. Boulder County Voter Registration Information is available from the County Clerk, 1750 33rd Street, Boulder, telephone 303-413-7740.
  • Permanent employment or acceptance of future permanent employment in Colorado.
  • Ownership of residential real property in Colorado that is your primary residence. Ownership of vacation or income property is not a factor indicating domicile. (NOTE: You do not need to actually purchase real estate; renting a house or apartment and having proof of your lease is sufficient.)
  • Continued residence in Colorado during the summer or during other periods when not enrolled as a student or during periods between academic sessions.
  • Other factors particular to your situation may be considered also, and should be documented.
  • You will also need proof of when you started living in Colorado... SAVE A COPY OF YOUR LEASE!

DON’T DELAY! The petition for in-state tuition classification is worse than the FAFSA. Make sure you are aware of dates and deadlines you must meet, and be sure to complete and submit a tuition classification form next spring or early summer.

Buff OneCard

The Buff OneCard is your official student ID for your entire career as a student at CU-Boulder. The card is required as official verification of eligibility for many student privileges, including access to the Student Recreation Center, all campus libraries, Wardenburg Health Center, access to Department of Housing dining centers, purchasing tickets for athletic events, and riding on local and regional RTD buses. You will also need this card to gain access to ATOC student computer labs, and buildings that house ATOC offices. The Buff OneBanking program links your to the U of C Federal Credit Union, making your ID an ATM/debit card. If you lose your card or believe it has been stolen, call 303-492-1212 immediately to have the card deactivated. For more information visit:

http://buffonecard.colorado.edu

The Campus Card office is located in Willard Hall, Room 182. You are eligible to obtain your Buff One Card as soon as you have confirmed your enrollment for the upcoming semester. Go as soon as possible in order to avoid the start of semester rush.

Fellowships

Some of you may already have been asked (or will be soon) to apply for fellowships to help fund you while you’re at CU. Others are supported directly by their advisor’s research grants or by a TA appointment. Either way, it is useful to look into fellowships to know what is available. Fellowships may range from one time travel grants (i.e. to attend a conference or workshop your advisor is not able to otherwise send you to), to full funding. Travel grants are something you may want to apply for regardless of whether or not you are asked to do so; (any money saved through travel grants means more money for your group to do research). Additionally, in instances where one is not certain if they will remain with a given research topic or advisor, it is sometimes useful to have independent funding through NSF or some other organization.

Professional Memberships

AMS (American Meteorological Society) student membership has financial benefits, including discounted conference fees and discounts on journal subscriptions and AMS published reference books. AMS membership forms and travel grant information can be acquired online at:

http://www.ametsoc.org/

Many students are also members of AGU (American Geophysical Union)

http://www.agu.org/


Student Appointments – RA/TA Positions:

If you will be appointed as a Teaching Assistant or a Research Assistant, you must be hired as a university employee. In order to be hired, you will need to show a current social security card and another official form of identification (usually a driver’s license or current passport). Be sure to bring these forms of ID with you to Boulder!

Direct deposit is mandatory for all university employees. You will need to provide a voided check and/or deposit slip in order to set this up and receive your pay. As a university employee, you will be paid once monthly at the end of the month.

PLEASE NOTE: A Teaching Assistant position for the fall semester runs from September 1 until December 31. Therefore, you will not be paid until the end of September – your first paycheck will not be deposited until Friday, September 29, 2006. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY!

If you are appointed as a Teaching Assistant, your monthly pay will differ in the fall and spring semesters. The total amount you are paid for each semester is the same. However, in the fall you are paid over four months (September/October/November/December). In the spring you are paid over five months (January/February/March/April/May). PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY!


Teaching Assistant Orientation

The Teaching Assistant Orientation is MANDATORY for all new and continuing graduate students who will hold a TA position in fall 2007. It is currently scheduled for the Thursday before classes start, August 23, 2007. A time will be determined closer to that date as scheduling becomes clearer. This meeting is conducted by our Lab Coordinator, Rich Keen. It is at this meeting that TA assignments for the semester are determined.

Teaching assistants assigned to a lecture class (ATOC 1050 or ATOC 1060) are required to grade homework assignments, to provide written solutions to assignments, to be familiar with lecture material, to attend (or have attended in previous semesters) lectures, to proctor exams, and to grade all hourly examinations and the final examination. In addition, the lecture TA may be required to conduct occasional evening or daytime reviews for examinations.

Teaching assistants assigned to the weather laboratory (ATOC 1070) are required to conduct two (2) two-hour laboratory sections each week, to prepare and deliver brief introductory material relating to each exercise, to see that the equipment is properly set up and cared for, and to grade students’ laboratory notebooks and laboratory-related homework. All TAs using laboratory equipment are expected to attend training sessions in the careful use of the equipment, to follow established procedures, and to report breakage and malfunctions in a timely manner.

All Teaching Assistants are expected to hold one or two office hours per week for each 25% appointment. All efforts are to be coordinated with the faculty member responsible for the course.

University Of Colorado At Boulder Discrimination And Harassment Policy

In order to create a positive learning, working and living environment, we must provide an atmosphere free of discrimination and harassment based upon race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and veteran status. University of Colorado at Boulder student employees (TA’s and RA’s) must attend a discrimination and harassment workshop within their first 30 days of hire. All UCB faculty members must attend a discrimination and workshop within their first semester of hire. After this initial workshop, all employees are required to attend a discrimination and harassment workshop at least once every five years. However, some departments may require employees to attend training more frequently.

Please review the sexual harassment and discrimination and harassment policies and procedures, which can be viewed at www.colorado.edu/odh/policies.html. All UCB employees are expected to adhere to these policies and procedures, especially the supervisory obligation to report allegations of discrimination and harassment to the appropriate Discrimination and Harassment Officer. You can obtain general information about discrimination and harassment, statistical information and workshop schedules from this website. If you have any questions regarding discrimination and harassment, or the training program, please contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment at 303-492-2127.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in helping create a respectful climate for all individuals in our community!

Codes/Keys/Copiers

For access codes to buildings/classrooms/computer labs, please see Kelly Duong in STAD 255-20. You will need to have your Buff OneCard with you!

For keys to offices/buildings, please see Sherry Yearsley in STAD 255-18.

For copier codes/supplies, please see Sherry Yearsley in STAD 255-18.

Libraries

Information on the CU library system, including an on-line card catalog can be found via:

http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/

NOTE: Many journals are offered on-line through the CU library web-site! Always, check there first and save yourself the trip, search, and photocopy hassles! Also, STRANGE BUT TRUE, the Engineering Library is located in the Math Building!

See map for library locations.

Study Areas

The ATOC conference room in Stadium 255-21 is available for regularly scheduled TA office hours or study sessions. Please sign-up for this room on the calendar posted inside the room.

NOTE: Many of us are in offices with more senior grad students who are doing research or writing theses. If you are in an office with other people, please be courteous (i.e. noise-conscious) when working on problem sets or group projects with others.

Writing Papers

When it comes time to start writing for class or for research, you may find it useful to invest in a program that helps you manage your references. One great one to try is called EndNote. You can buy a student version at the bookstore for about $90.

Boulder Living

Banking

Elevations Credit Union (formerly known as the U of C Federal Credit Union – name change June 2006) is probably the most popular choice for banking. There is a branch in the UMC on campus where you can set up an account. For more information, please see http://www.uofcfcu.com or http://www.ElevationsCU.com.

Housing

As you have probably discovered, housing in Boulder is expensive. If you are still looking for a place, you may want to note that north Boulder tends to be slightly more affordable than south Boulder, and apartments/houses near campus are nearly always more expensive than those farther away. Some students, who are in a position to take out a loan, opt to temporarily purchase a house or town home under the assumption that they will have the option to sell it at a profit when they graduate, as property prices in Boulder have risen steadily over the past several years. Rooms in such a house can, of course, be rented out to help make the mortgage payments. Such an investment, however, should be considered very carefully and you may want to wait and settle into the graduate program to be certain you want to stay in Boulder long enough for the investment to be worthwhile. You may also consider Family Housing. CU Family Housing does provide housing for families, married couples, and single parents. They also have a limited number of units for single graduate students.

Also, be sure to ask current graduate students where they are living.

Here are a few helpful organizations to use when looking for housing:

Furniture

Here are some of the more "reasonably" priced furniture stores in Boulder....

  • No Place Like Home (new and used furniture), Phone: (303) 440-9011, Location: 3550 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
  • The Salvation Army Thrift Store (used, varies daily), Phone: (303) 939-8502, Location: 1701 33rd St., Boulder
  • Good Use (used, but really nice!), Phone: (303) 544-1300, Location: 1646 Pearl, Boulder
  • Unpainted Furniture (all new furniture), Phone: (303) 443-8229, Location: 2034 Pearl, Boulder

Buses and Transportation

Boulder has one of the best alternative transportation systems in the nation. From the more than 200 miles of bicycle paths and lanes to the fast, convenient bus system, there’s little need for a car to get around. As CU-Boulder students, you can ride the Regional Transportation District (RTD) (http://www.rtd-denver.com) buses to get to Denver, the airport, and the mountains, as well as local buses and the Community Transit Network (http://www.goboulder.net) to get around town.

To take advantage of the free bus system, you must have your Buff One Card and your university-issued RTD sticker, which should be applied to the outside of a clear, plastic sleeve designed to hold your BuffOne Card. You will need to go to the Student ID office, currently in Willard Hall, to get a new bus pass each fall before the beginning of the new school year. Take note of the expiration date on your current pass. Summer passes cost about $50 and can also be found in the Student ID office.

The AB bus is the RTD Skyride bus that will take you and your luggage to the Denver International Airport. It starts at the station near Walnut Street and makes its way up Broadway to the Table Mesa Park and Ride, then to other park-and-rides along the way to the airport. A bus leaves the station just about every hour. If you do not have your bus pass, it is only a $10 ride to the airport and a $10 ride back, which may be convenient for visitors. At the airport you can find this bus on island 5 on both the east and west side. Schedules are always posted on island 5. Before and after most school breaks, the bus is guaranteed to be full, and you may be left behind. Sometimes they have two buses for each scheduled time in order to fit all of the students. For this reason it is wise to board the bus before it reaches the hill area on the day before fall, winter, or spring breaks.

Useful Websites Commonly Used by ATOC'ers

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