GENERAL ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2019-20
http://www.secfac.wisc.edu/academic-calendar.htm
TA/Faculty contract begins: August 19
New grad student welcome: August 28
Instruction Begins (Fall semester): September 4
Thanksgiving Recess: November 28-December 1
Last Day of Fall classes: December 11
Winter Break: December 20-January 20
Instruction Begins (Spring semester): January 21
Spring Break: March 14-March 22
Last Day of Spring classes: May 1
FACULTY MEETINGS
Faculty meetings are held once per month in room 235. The first faculty meeting of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, September 12 at 3:30 pm. Council meetings are normally held on the Wednesday one or in some cases two weeks prior to the faculty meeting.
September 11, 2019
October 16, 2019
November 13, 2019
December 18, 2019
Spring Meetings: TBD
GGSA (Dept of Geoscience Graduate Student Association)
President – Brittany Hupp
Vice President – Jeremy Patterson
Treasurer – Collin Roland
Secretary – Catherine Christenson
Faculty Liaisons – Andrew Walters and Naomi Barshi
Professional Development Chair – Cameron Batchelor
Public Relations Chair: Emily Mixon
Recruitment Coordinator – Allison Jones
Ombudspersons – Alex Villa and Lisa Haas
Faculty Ombudspeople – Stephen Meyers and Mike Cardiff
AAPG President: Shlomo Honig
Oil Recruiting Coordinator: Andrew Walters
BUILDING HOURS
The building is closed except to those doing legitimate university business 5 PM to 7 AM Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday. You may be asked to show your UW ID by UWPD if you are in the building outside those hours. The building is locked and unlocked by security on a schedule similar to the Library’s hours.
REMINDER: The department offices on the 2nd floor will be closed on holidays.
BULLETIN BOARDS
The bulletin boards in the stairway landings are for posting notices of Weeks Lectures, brown bag talks, prelims, etc. You are responsible for removing any notices that you post immediately following the talks. Please DO NOT remove the bulletin boards themselves or take down the evacuation maps.
CLASSROOM USE IN WEEKS HALL
If you wish to use a room in Weeks Hall for a class, meeting, exam, etc. you must reserve the room in advance. Also, if there is any change for a class, meeting etc., please inform the office so the schedule can be updated.
COMPUTER SUPPORT
Ben Abernathy ben@geology.wisc.edu Room 156 262-9698
Ben is charged with maintaining the various departmental servers, network connections, computing laboratories, printers, and other equipment in the department.
Computer Self Help Site
We have provided answers to the most commonly asked questions at: http://geoscience.wisc.edu/geoscience/help/knowledge-base
On this site, we have information about connecting to various departmental computing resources.
Please consult this site first for help with common computer related problems before contacting us.
There are several web sites maintained by the campus computing center (DoIT) that you should also know about.
DoIT it.wisc.edu
Campus Knowledgebase: kb.wisc.edu
Wiscmail: wiscmail.wisc.edu
Free antivirus software: it.wisc.edu/services/software (Symantec Antivirus from Software Library)
UW Madison Web Portal: my.wisc.edu
Campus Software Library: it.wisc.edu/services/software (Free campus provided software)
Campus cloud storage: uwmadison.box.com (Free cloud storage)
GSuite (Formerly Google Apps): https://apps.google.wisc.edu (Google Drive, Google Docs, etc.)
Personal Computers
A firewall is installed between the outside world and the building that protects computers inside from network attacks. It does not protect against viruses and attacks which “walk through the door” with computers that move between home and the office. Therefore, we need to make sure everyone is conscientious of computer security.
We have adopted a policy which requires you to have current operating system software with all applicable security patches installed. We also require you to obtain and keep current some type of antivirus program. We encourage everyone to install and use a software firewall program on your computer. We retain the right to disconnect any computer from the network which may pose or is suspected to be a hazard to other computers. If you are connecting your personal computer to the network for the first time, please bring it to one of our offices for inspection.
On-line department directory
A database driven departmental listing of graduate students is available at: http://geoscience.wisc.edu/geoscience/people/grad-students/
Your name should already have been entered in this database by our graduate admissions secretary. You can request changes to your information by sending an email to Ben Abernathy, or Jane Fox-Anderson.
Personal Web Pages
We encourage people to add to the minimal information for this departmental web presence and also encourage you to develop and maintain your own personal web pages. Before you can start creating personal-page type content, you will need to email Ben Abernathy (ben@geology.wisc.edu) and request an account.
Once your account is created, you will receive an email notifying you, and a new personal page will be created for you. You will have full control of this page and be able to create sub-pages of it, of which the contents will appear below your basic information on the People page. More information on how to use the website can be found here:
https://wordpress.org/support/article/pages/
Departmental Wireless
Wireless access is available in the department. The UWNet network is accessible via your NETID. It provides basic internet connectivity. For wireless access to departmental shared printers and servers, you will need to use our separate network, which requires setup by IT staff.
High Throughput and High Performance Computing Resources
The campus provides free access to both High Throughput (many small computing jobs such as running thousands of Monte Carlo simulations), and High Performance (multiple processors, large memory requirement, etc.) computing. You will have to fill out a form describing your computing needs and meet with their computing facilitators for authorization to use those resources. Information about both can be found here: http://chtc.cs.wisc.edu. The request form is here:
Backups
If you primarily use your personal computing for your work, you are encouraged to provide your own backup hardware and software solution. The departmental IT staff can give you advice if you need help.
We regularly backup accounts on our Departmental Windows Server (AD1) (weekly), the Departmental Linux home directory (/usr1) (daily). The administrative staff computer home directories are also backed up daily.
In the department, we have over 300 TB of data spinning on disks and it is not feasible to back it all up. That data is protected against single and (on certain disks) double disk failure. This is not a backup and you can still remove files that cannot be retrieved.
Certain directories are backed up periodically. Please contact the IT staff if you have additional questions about specific drives or directories.
EMERGENCIES
Campus police – UWPD: (608) 264-2677
More info available from Michelle Szabo in room 231.
FAX MACHINE
The Department FAX number is 608-262-0693. Please inform anyone sending you a FAX that your name should be on the FAX. It will be put in your mailbox or emailed to you when received. The fax machine is the color copier, Rm. 238.
GRIEVANCES
Undergrads: see your TA, then your Professor Department Administrator, then the Department Chair/ Department Administrator, then the Dean of Students Office
Grads: see your Professor/Department Administrator, then the Department Chair/Department Administrator, then the Dean of Students Office
https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/
INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAIL ENVELOPES
Extra envelopes may be returned to Room 238.
KEYS
People assigned offices receive an Outside Door (OD) key and their office key. Keys for labs must be authorized by your advisor. Keys are signed out from Jane in Rm 213. Your OD key will open the doors to the copier room (Rm 238) and the printer room (Rm 234). If you lock yourself out, please see one of the staff on the 2nd floor, any of the faculty, or the library for help. Please do not lose your keys. Please return your keys to the office when you leave the UW.
LCD PROJECTORS, LASER POINTERS
These must be reserved and checked out.
LOST AND FOUND is located in Room 225A.
Mail is distributed as quickly as possible after it arrives in the office, approximately 2 PM. The mail (both campus and U S mail) leaves the department once a day at approximately 10:00 AM. If you have something that needs to be sent FEDEX, please check with Karen. It needs to be in the office NO LATER than 2:00 PM to get the necessary paperwork filled out and schedule the pick-up. There is a form in the mailroom and a variety of shipping boxes in Rm.225.
MCBURNEY CENTER
The McBurney Center mission is to utilize our expertise in disability and higher education, and work in partnership with the University of Wisconsin community to:
- deliver innovative and high quality services and classroom accommodations to UW students with disabilities
- facilitate and advocate for reasonable accommodations so that students have equal access to the programs, activities and services of the institution
- cultivate opportunities for students to articulate their strengths and advocate for necessary accommodations
- identify and respond to the dynamic nature of student needs and learning environments.
The McBurney Center is mainly concerned with classroom and learning accommodations. Graduate students may require additional accommodations. Please see your advisor, the department chair, or the department administrator for more information regarding accommodations as they relate to your RA or TA appointment.
OMBUDS
The graduate students have selected Professors Stephen Meyers and Mike Cardiff as departmental ombudsmen. (An ombudsman (conventional English plural: ombudsmen) is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing the broad scope of constituent interests [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ombuds].)
PRINTING IN WEEKS HALL
In order to print or makes copies you will need a copy code and access to the department’s wireless network (see Ben Abernathy).
http://geoscience.wisc.edu/geoscience/help/knowledge-base/printing/
http://geoscience.wisc.edu/geoscience/help/knowledge-base/
SECURITY
DO NOT BLOCK outside exit doors or keep fire doors open. Authorized personnel should make sure they have an outside door key. Also, be sure to lock your door when you are out of your office. Security may ask to see your UW ID after hours. Please carry this. Please do not open doors for people you don’t know.
TELEPHONE POLICY
To call within the university (262-, 263, 890- numbers), just dial the number. To get an outside line (to dial outside of the university), dial 1+ the number (1-438-1234, 1-608-438-1234, 1-1-212-233-9999, etc.).
Not all offices have phones. Additional will not be added.
The State Telephone System is to be used for long distance calls that are related to University business only. Use of the system for personal calls, even if reimbursement is subsequently made to the University by the individual, is NOT permitted and is considered an abuse of the system. Unavoidable personal calls are to be made as collect calls, billed directly to your home phone, or charged to personal credit card. There is a charge for each local call and for calls to directory assistance made from an office telephone. LONG DISTANCE BUSINESS CALLS are to be made by dialing “1-1” and the area code and number being called. Such calls SHOULD NOT be made by dialing “9-1”, area code/number.
THIN SECTION LAB
New students must go through saw room orientation with Drae Rogers. If you can coordinate with another person, it will be more efficient than training each person individually. There are numerous options for cutting rocks in the department; about 12 working saws. Rocks or slabs may require impregnation before processing. All materials received are processed in rotation to be fair to all. Turn around time is usually a few weeks depending on the backlog of materials to produce. Standard sections are produced more rapidly than polished materials. Please do not sign up for Probe or SEM time before your project is complete. Many problems arise in polishing the wide variety of materials collected. It is not fair to take machine time from others if your materials are not ready.
TRAVEL and TRAVEL SUPPORT
There are strict rules regarding travel and expense reimbursement. Please review:
http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/acct/policy/ppindex.html
http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/acct/travel/tabtripplanning.html
Please do not make any travel arrangements before you speak to Karen Turnio or Michelle Szabo.
Students may request department support up to $500 for travel to one meeting per year if they are presenting UW-Madison work, that they have not/will not ask for other meeting expenses this calendar year, and that there are no other sources (i.e., grant funds) to cover the cost of the trip. In order to obtain authorization for department funding, the student’s advisor needs to send a note to the department chair. The chair will forward approval to the advisor and the student can THEN make travel arrangements.
Department assistance is intended to support the lowest cost airfare only for students that have no other means to attend the meeting. A student may receive this departmental support only once per year. The student must be presenting a paper based on research done at UW-Madison, in collaboration with a Geoscience faculty member.
Summer Field Work Travel and Expenses
Each year the department uses gift funds from alumni and other donors to support student research, particularly for summer field work, but also for other purposes as appropriate to the student’s research area. The chair issues a call for requests early in the spring semester and these requests are generally due in mid-April. Requests to the department must be back-up to pending external support requests.
Some URLs for relevant student grant programs:
AAPG: http://foundation.aapg.org
GSA: http://www.geosociety.org/grants/gradgrants.htm
Sigma Xi: https://www.sigmaxi.org/home
SEG: http://seg.org/About-SEG/Foundation
There are, of course, many others, so some effort on your part at finding these will certainly increase your chances of securing funding for your work. Before submitting a request for departmental support, you should discuss your needs with your advisor. All requests must include a signed statement from your advisor that he/she has reviewed your request, supports it, and that other funding sources are not available. The request should include a short paragraph describing what you want to do and why it is significant, a budget, other available and/or pending sources of support, and the amount you hope the department will contribute.
Reimbursement for Travel Expenses: See Karen Turino
Travel and other expenses are reimbursed through a system called “e-reimbursement.”
http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/acct/e-Re/tabtraveler.html
UNDERGRADS
Please check your box frequently for mail and messages. Geo Club co-presidents for 2019-2020 are Aditya Krishnan (akrishnan8@wisc.edu) and Ellie Callahan (ehcallahan@wisc.edu)
UW FIRE POLICY
UW Police & Security and the Madison Fire Department are notified of a fire alarm in a University building. When an alarm is sounded, occupants of the building MUST evacuate if it can be done safely. Departmental personnel ARE NOT to reset alarms. Only the fire department can give permission for people to return to the building.
DEPARTMENT VANS AND FLEET VEHICLES
In order to be covered by the State’s Liability Protection while driving on university business and to drive any of the department or UW vehicles, all prospective drivers must complete the appropriate driver authorization request form http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/risk_mgt/drivetable.html.
All drivers must be approved through Risk Management, regardless of whether you are driving your personal vehicle, a Car Fleet or DOA vehicle, or a rental vehicle.
The parking permit for the vehicle hangs from the rear view mirror. DO NOT REMOVE IT FROM THE VEHICLE, DO NOT LOSE IT!!! If the permit is lost or for any reason we have to replace it, you will be charged $75. The vehicles are parked in lot 81 and 54, depending on the parking permit. There is a sign at the lot entrance indicating which lot it is. Parking in the wrong lot results in a parking ticket for the Department and you will be charged.
To use or reserve a department or UW Fleet vehicle, check with Mary Schumann (sign out sheet is outside Room 215). Each vehicle has its own credit card for gas purchases. It is included in the log book, along with the keys. When using the credit card you are required to put in the odometer reading and the PIN number. If you do not know the PIN number, please check with Mary before taking the vehicle out. The department vehicles use REGULAR UNLEADED gasoline only, NOT premium and NOT mid-grade. The gas credit cards are to be used for fuel, emergency repairs, and necessary automotive fluid (oil, auto transmission fluid, etc.) replacement ONLY. They are NOT to be used for food, beverages, or any other items not specifically related to the vans or truck. Also, it is good practice to check the engine oil when gas is purchased. If you don’t know how to do this find instructions in the manual that is located in the glove compartment or check with Phil Brown or Neal Lord for instructions.
NO SMOKING in department or fleet vehicles.
All paper waste, food, and beverage containers MUST be removed from the vehicles and thrown away when finished with the vehicle. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!!!! You may use the gas card to get the vehicle washed.
Dates, mileage (leaving and returning), driver’s name, and account to be charged must be recorded in the book for that vehicle. Please make note of any problems you had with the vehicle, repairs made, or anything you noticed that could be a problem. We need MORE information than is usually jotted down so please report problems in a style and with enough information that enables those in charge of the vehicles to see that the problem be corrected. This is VERY important to insure that the vehicles are properly maintained.
Upon completion of the trip all doors should be locked. The keys (all sets given to you), the log book and the credit card must be returned to Mary. If the office is closed please put the keys in the mailbox marked “Office”. This will insure that the vehicle can be used again immediately if necessary. Replacement of lost keys will be the responsibility of the person who lost them.
Failure to follow these instructions could result in revocation of driving and or vehicle use privileges.
WIRELESS
Wireless access is available in the department. The UWNet network is accessible via your NetID and only requires authentication once every semester. It provides basic internet connectivity. For wireless access to departmental shared printers and servers, you will need to use our separate network (Geoscience_Dept), which requires setup by IT staff. See also section on Computer Support, above.