before you arrive
when you get to austin
before you arrive
The Marine Science Secretary (ESB 102) can help with office problems in Austin. The Natural Sciences Office (ESB1) can help with problems regarding your own classes or the class you are TAing. If it is a financial question, the bottom floor of the Tower is probably where you want to be. In Port Aransas, Kathy Quade is available to help as well as Patty Webb (financial questions/benefits).
You will need to complete several forms before your first semester begins. Most important are the payroll forms that will need to be turned in to Patty Web before you can get your paycheck! She can also help you fill out the University medical insurance forms. UT does offer a seminar about your medical insurance- you will get information about it later. It is very important that you send in your immunization records - you will be barred from registration in the spring if you don’t. Lastly, every graduate students needs to fill out the Proposed Program of Work. The form can be downloaded from the UTMSI website ( www.utmsi.utexas.edu/institute/office_forms.htm). Work with your adviser to fill the out the form and return to the Graduate Advisor. Don’t worry, this form doesn’t lock you in to a specific schedule, you’ll still have some flexibility in the classes you take. It simply helps to make sure that you are on track to graduate as well as give the faculty an idea of what classes students need to graduate. They look at these forms when they decide what will be offered in future semesters.
Contact John Shedd (shedd@utmsi.utexas.edu) to get a UTMSI email address. He can also provide instructions on accessing your email account for the first time if you need help.
Trying to find an apartment is a difficult process in Austin so start early! A number of apartment finder services can help, especially if you are trying to do this before you move to Texas. There are a number of different areas of town and each has its pros and cons. If you don’t have a car and want to live close to campus you can live just north of campus in the Hyde Park area. However these apartments/houses are a generally a little pricier. Housing is cheaper east of I-35 but gated communities are recommended. Far West is an area about a 15 minute drive northwest from the campus. It has fairly good shuttle service and a lot of graduate students live there. You have a lot of options in where to live, ask around, check with the people in your lab or contact our GSA for advice. WARNING: When you sign a lease be sure to ask the company/manager if they are overbooking. Some graduates students have been bumped at the last minute.
when you get to austin
UT Austin is a large school and the campus can be intimidating for those that are coming from small undergraduate colleges. A printable map of the campus is available in PDF format on the UT website ( http://www.utexas.edu/maps/). The map is small but it will be a saving grace during your first trip to campus.
You can get your student ID card in the SSB basement (corner of Dean Keeton and University). You can also get your UTEID and a computer account at this location. The computer account enables you to use the computers in the labs and libraries. The UTEID will allow you to access the UT Direct and Blackboard websites. UT Direct allows you to register for classes, pay your bills, change addresses, check grades, etc. The Blackboard website is a place where professors can post information for your classes. If you are in Port Aransas for the summer, you can set up your UTEID in advance.
The Marine Science Department has offices for all graduate students on the Austin Campus. It is located in the ESB building (corner of 24 th and Speedway ). The office is number 104 and there are three separate rooms in the office. Each office is supplied with a desk for each graduate student, some office supplies, a few computers for your use, and several ports to plug in your personal computers. A printer is located in one of the rooms that all computers can use to print. If you have problems connecting to the printer, the secretary can contact computer services to help. There are two phone lines in the office (512-471-5709 and 512-471-4819).
To get keys to your office you will need your student ID and a paper from the secretary that lists what keys you are allowed to have. You should be able to get keys to your office, the marine science office, and the door to ESB. The Key Office is located in the SER building (on 24th).
Any office supplies not found in the office can be found in the marine science office. This office is in ESB 102 and is staffed part-time by an undergraduate. She can supply extra paper, toner, etc. If there are computer problems let her know and she will find someone to help. There is also a copy machine in ESB 102 that you can use.
By Bus . . .
We are fortunate that UT has an excellent bus service for students. All buses (both the city buses and the UT Shuttles) are free of charge with your student ID. Using the buses is highly recommend because parking can be difficult. For a list of the routes and times that they run go to the UT website under Maps and Parking ( www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/shuttle/index.html).
By Car . . .
There is parking on campus but it is tightly controlled and in high demand. A permit for the cheapest lots (C permit) is about $80 a year. There is a shuttle bus from the C lots to campus. As a graduate student/TA you can get a slightly better permit (A permit) for $108 a year. See the UT website for parking maps (www.utexas.edu/parking/maps.campusmap.htm ). You can also call the Parking Office for further information at 512-471-7275.
By Bike . . .
A lot of students bike to campus and if you live close enough this can be a really great option. The city of Austin has a link to a bike map (www.ci.austin.tx.us/bicycle/bikemap.htm) that you should check out. Be careful though - not all roads are bike friendly!
You will register for your classes for your fall semester a few days before classes start. A list of courses is available online (www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/schedules/). You can register for the classes through UT Direct or over the phone. Specific information for registration times is listed on the registrar’s website. As for what classes you will take...the classes that are offered each semester vary greatly. You should look over the Course Schedule and talk with your advisor as well as other grad students in your lab. Past students have taken everything from Biology/Ecology seminars, Psychology statistics, Biochemistry, GIS, Geology classes, etc. It simply depends on what your focus is and what your advisor wants you to take.
Yes, your tuition is paid. BUT you have to foot the bill from the time you register until the 12 th class day. Tuition will cost around $2500 and you can pay it using all the usual methods (cash, check or a credit card) or if funds are tight you can sign up for a sort-term student loan through the UT Direct system. After the 12 th day of classes, the University will give you a check for a portion of the tuition (this comes from your TA appointment). You need to let Kathy Quade (down in Port A) know the amount of this check and she will have a check written to you for the remaining amount of your tuition.
Payday is on the first of each month. This means that if you are not working over the summer in Port Aransas, you will not receive your first paycheck until OCTOBER 1. The paychecks are delivered to you through campus mail and so you will receive them a few days after the first of the month. An easier way to receive the money sooner is to sign up for direct deposit through UT Direct.
Unless you have a fellowship, you will have a TA appointment during your time in Austin. Don’t worry if you don’t know what position you will have right away. These usually aren’t decided until late in the summer. You will be notified as soon as they are determined. Most students will be TAs for the Intro to Oceanography class. A lab manual was recently created for this class. If you are not a TA for the Oceanography class then you will TA either a lab or discussion through the Biology Department.
The main library of concern for you should be the Natural Sciences library. It is located in the Tower. Follow the signs and ask a Librarian where to find books if you need them (as they are hidden). If you are looking for journal articles there is a good chance that they are online and can be downloaded through the Library webpage. Note of caution: bound journals may be taken from the library so the article you need may be checked out - go early.
