UCSC PHYSICS GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Contents:
Administrators, Committees and Advisors
Notes on Policies and Procedures
Registration and Enrollment
Financial Support
Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, and Personnel/Payroll
Lab Managers
Groups and Other Information of Interest

ADMINISTRATORS, COMMITTEES and ADVISORS

Jennifer Hild is currently the Graduate Program Advisor for Physics. She is located in ISB 211, (831) 459-4122, jhild@ucsc.edu

The Graduate Advisor is the primary contact in the Physics Department Office for Graduate Students and Graduate Program issues. When you first join the program, she can help you get started. Please feel free, at any time, to ask her for help to find your way around, do the things you need to do, get enrolled/registered, handle financial aid issues, understand policies and procedures, degree and program requirements and other issues. She is here to support you and your studies. Her goal is to help you get through the program as smoothly, quickly, and easily as possible. If she doesn’t know the answer to your question, she can refer you to someone who can help you.

Staying in touch and keeping Jennifer informed helps her to help you through the program. Please contact Jennifer as soon as possible when things change such as your advisor, employment and research plans and assignments, home or physics department address, phone and email information. It’s also a good idea to contact her when you are considering, approaching and/or passing milestones in your studies such as completing degree course requirements, taking qualifying exams, oral exams and preparing to present your MS thesis or defend your PhD dissertation. Check with her regarding requirements. She can often help you avoid unpleasant surprises and disappointments.

If you want the Graduate Committee to discuss an issue, just let the Graduate Advisor know and she will see that it gets on their agenda; you can, of course, also contact Graduate Committee Members directly.

Physics Graduate Faculty Committee (2005-2006)

Michael Dine, Chair, ISB 329, 459-3033, dine@scipp.ucsc.edu
Howard Haber, Recruitment Chair, ISB 326, 459-4228, haber@scipp.ucsc.edu

Peter Young, ISB 221, 459-4151, peter@physics.ucsc.edu
Bruce Schumm, NS II 318, 459-3034, schumm@scipp.ucsc.edu
Sue Carter, ISB 220, 459-3657, sacarter@physics.ucsc.edu
Jason Nielsen, NSII 315, 459-3457, nielsen@scipp.ucsc.edu

The Graduate Committee is responsible for overseeing the Graduate Program. Please contact them if you have questions or concerns about the program. They genuinely care about the success of each and every graduate student and about the improvement of our graduate program. They can be a wonderful resource. Contact them early if your having any difficulties; don’t wait for things to become critical. The Graduate Committee members really are on "your side". They are here to help.

Physics Department Chair

David Belanger, ISB 245, 459-2871, dave@dave.ucsc.edu

Abe Seiden, Natural Sciences II 333, 459-2923, abs@scipp.ucsc.edu

Physics Department Program Assistants

Jennifer Hild, ISB 211, (831) 459-4122, jhild@ucsc.edu , Graduate Advisor
Julie Reiner, ISB 211, (831) 459-3744, reiner@ucsc.edu, Department Assistant
Hua Vang, ISB 211, (831) 459-2329, hvang@ucsc.edu, Undergraduate Advisor

Along with their many other duties, such as keeping the Physic Department Office running well and advising undergraduates, Hua Vang and Julie Reiner support physics courses in just about every way you can imagine, from initial course preparations such as ordering textbooks to coordinating grading and evaluations. If you are a TA you will be working very closely with them on the course that you TA. Julie handles textbook ordering and can help you find current texts and instructor desk copies that you may need for your TA work. Good communication (don’t be afraid to ask a million questions) will pave the way to a smooth TA experience for you, your students, and the Program Assistants.

Physics Department Office Manager

Sarah Schuster, Interdisciplinary Sciences Building 209, (831) 459-4121, schuster@ucsc.edu  

Sarah Schuster, the Physics Department Office Manager, oversees the work of the Department Office, supports the Physics Department in many different ways and deals with the "big issues" such as accounting, personnel/payroll, office space, and facilities issues.

Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics Staff

SCIPP Office: 337 Natural Sciences II Building
Georgia Hamel, NSII 335, 459-2635, georgia@scipp.ucsc.edu

Georgia is a great resource for students working with SCIPP (the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics). She can help you find your way around SCIPP and SCIPP research projects, policies and procedures as well as support you and your SCIPP research in many, many ways.

Your Physics Department Advisor

Every graduate student is assigned an initial faculty advisor when they enter the program. Students may request a change in their advisor at any time. Once a student begins research, the research advisor usually becomes the official advisor. If a student’s research advisor is in another department, the student will still have a departmental advisor on the Physics Department faculty. To change your advisor, contact the Graduate Program Assistant, who will, with the approval of your past and proposed advisors, make the change in your records.

It is important that you meet with your advisor every quarter to discuss your goals, coursework and expectations. Your advisor can provide a wealth of information, from his/her years of experience, about the "real world" aspects of the program.. Your advisor is your personal consultant on academic matters and serves as a liaison between you and the Physics Department in procedural matters. Advisors can discuss the program with you and provide guidance regarding coursework, They can consult with you about degree and other program requirements, provide a sounding board about your research, consult with you about financial aid and other financial support, help you create a long term strategy for accomplishing your goals, help you stay on track and advise you about your career options.

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NOTES ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Physics Department conducts an orientation for new graduate students every fall prior to the start of instruction. This orientation includes information about the department, research groups, events, financial support. Resources, pressing needs and practical items as well as a question and answer period. T/A and R/A hiring is also discussed at the orientation meeting. Key payroll personnel will be available to sign you up for employment and answer your questions.

The UCSC Division of Graduate Studies also conducts an orientation for new graduate students every fall just prior to the start of instruction. This orientation will acquaint you with campus information and services beyond the department. In addition the Chancellor’s Office has a University-wide reception for all graduate students on campus, a good time to meet other students.

Degree and Program Requirements
Study the Graduate Student Handbook (Campus-wide requirements) and the Policies and procedures for Graduate Students in Physics (Department requirements) closely. Confirm, using these official documents, any program and degree requirement information given to you by others (your advisor, other faculty and students). Check with the Graduate Program Assistant to confirm information. The Graduate Program Assistant is very aware of the policies and happy to do all she can to help you avoid unpleasant surprises.

Written Qualifying Exams:
Passing the written qualifying examination is a requirement for all PhD students.  The exam is offered in the fall.  The exam has five sections: Classical Mechanics (at an advanced undergraduate level), Electricity & Magnetism, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics. It is a closed-book exam, with one sheet of information (formulae, equations, etc.) provided. It is necessary to pass each section with a score of 60% or better, usually calculated by a certain number of points per problem. It is not necessary for a student to retake any section which they complete successfully. Students are required to take all unpassed sections of the exam each time the exam is offered or forfeit that attempt. Students are expected to pass the exam prior to their second year but are allowed an additional attempt prior to their third year: Students who fail the exam on their third attempt may be asked to leave the program or may be offered the opportunity to complete a Master's Thesis. However, going from a PhD program to a Master's degree program, students will have a lower priority for TA assignments and other forms of support than contininuing PhD students. 

Past exams may be viewed at http://physics.ucsc.edu/exam.  Students should be aware that sections of the exam will vary year to year in difficulty. (see our scanned copies of past exams at http://physics.ucsc.edu/exam. Textbooks covering material at the level of the examination include:

I. Mechanics: Marion and Thornton, Classical Dynamics, (all chapters). This is an undergraduate level text, used in many universities in the junior year.

II. Electricity and Magnetism: Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, esp. chapters 1-9, 11-14 (in principle, anything in the text may be covered in the exam).

III. Quantum Mechanics: Shankar, Quantum Mechanics, entire text. One might want to supplement this with some text with a more extensive treatment of topics such as scattering theory and perturbation theory, with more physical examples. Possible texts include those of Sakurai and Baym.

IV. Mathematical Methods of Physics: This is covered at an advanced undergraduate level. Suitable texts include those of Boas and of Arfken, in their entirety. This section tends to be somewhat unpredictable, but it is good to have a mastery of elementary differential equations and complex variables (particularly contour integration, and topics such as convergence of series, etc.). Topics like Laplace transforms, fourier analysis, and the like appear with some regularity. You won't be expected to remember long formulas about special functions, but you might be given information (e.g. recursion relations, integral representations) and be expected to manipulate it to derive results.

V. Statistical Mechanics: Wannier, Statistical Mechanics, and Plischke and Bergersen, ``Equilibrium Statistical Physics''. This section is covered at the graduate level although many problems can be solved with an undergraduate level of understanding.

Some advice on preparation:

1.Allow plenty of time. The summer prior to the exam, you should try to minimize other commitments (research, travel, etc.). Plenty means a great deal -- the equivalent of many weeks, full time.

2. Don't expect that you will master material simply by reading. It is important to work problems, from small exercises, to textbook problems and past exams. All studying should be done with pen and paper in hand. Invent exercises: derive formulas in texts, apply them to familiar day to day problems, etc. It is a good idea to spend some of your time studying with your friends. This will give you feedback on problems, and is also fun and good for your morale.

3. Try to take a positive view of this experience. This is the last time you will be encouraged to take a broad view of physics. It is an opportunity to fill in gaps in your knowledge, explore material you didn't learn well in the past, read books that you have always wanted to (e.g. some students study the Feynman lectures while preparing).

4. Other Graduate Students have undergraduate texts which they like, have access to exams from other institutions, and pointed out that some of the material above (e.g. particular chapters of texts) has not been covered in past exams. I urge you to consult with your fellow students about strategies for preparing for the exam.

FALL             
Physics 210 - Classical Mechanics
Physics 212 - Electromagnetism I
Physics 292 - Colloquium

WINTER       
Physics 205 - Introduction to Research in Physics
Physics 214 - Electromagnetism II or PHYS213 E&M and Plasma Physics
Physics 215 - Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 292 - Colloquium

SPRING
Physics 216 - Advanced Topics in Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 219 - Statistical Physics
Physics 292 - Colloquium

All first year courses, unless you are specifically exempted by petitioning the Graduate Committee, are required for the PhD degree. All PhD graduate students are expected to take all of these courses in your first year of study. Passing the related section of the qualifying exam prior to your first year of study does not mean that you should not take that graduate level course. These courses cover a great deal of material not covered in the qualifying exam. Please discuss your course schedule with your advisor once and also feel free to contact the Graduate Program Assistant about the courses offered or your course schedule.

If you are a Master’s student, you are required to take eight physics courses, not necessarily all the courses listed above for the PhD students. However, if you intend on trying to pass the qualifying exams, the Graduate Committee strongly recommends that you take the courses required for the PhD students.Your course selection is still subject to review by your advisor and approval by the Graduate Committee.

Normal Steps to Completing Degrees: Years 2-5
The normal steps to completing a Ph.D. are Coursework (1st year) , Written Ph.D. Qualifying Exam, Advanced Coursework, Research, Oral Ph.D. Qualifying Exam ( approximately one year. after Written PhD Qualifying Exam is passed), Advancement to Candidacy, Thesis Research, Dissertation Preparation, Defense (usually within 5 years of starting the program), PhD.

In general, the second year of the PhD program will include more advanced coursework and beginning your research. It is hoped that a student will pass the Written Ph.D. Qualifying Exam by the start of the second year at which time a student should begin looking for a research advisor. The Oral Qualifying Exam is generally passed one year after the Written Ph.D. Qualifying Exam. In general, students conduct their thesis research in years 3-5. Students generally finish their PhD in 5 years.

The normal steps to completing a Master’s Degree are Coursework, Thesis Research, Thesis Preparation and Thesis Presentation (usually within 2 years of starting the program); successful completion of four out of five sections of the Written Ph.D. Qualifying Exam will waive the Thesis requirement. Masters students generally complete MS course requirements in the first 4 quarters and complete their thesis research by the end of the second year. PhD students generally complete their Master’s degree on their way to the PhD, by passing the qualifying exam and fulfilling the course requirements in their second year.

Physics Department Informal Complaint Resolution Process
There are many avenues available to students who have concerns about the Graduate Program and/or their experience as a graduate student. Students are actively encouraged to make suggestions and give feedback about the program. Different students will feel comfortable addressing their concerns in different ways. We seek to provide a variety of options to resolve issues. One option is to discuss one's concerns with one's advisor. In addition, the Graduate Committee gives prompt attention to all graduate student concerns. Students can discuss issues with individual Graduate Committee members and/or address the Graduate Committee at one of their meetings. Graduate students can request to be added to the Graduate Committee Agenda by contacting the Graduate Program Assistant. The Graduate Committee also hosts informal graduate student gatherings to listen to the concerns and suggestions of graduate students. The Graduate Student Committee is available to facilitate interaction between graduate students and faculty and to represent graduate students in the decision making processes of the department, as well as to provide a forum for graduate students to discuss issues and concerns. Another option is to discuss concerns with the Department Chair or SCIPP Director. Anonymous feedback about the program can be sent via campus mail to the Graduate Program Assistant. Sensitive issues are treated confidentially and every effort is made to resolve issues promptly and fairly. Students wishing assistance from outside of the department are encouraged to contact the Ombudsman's Office or the Graduate Division.

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REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT

Registrar's Office
190 Hahn Student Service Building, 459-4412, registrar@ucsc.edu

You can contact the registrar’s office for assistance enrolling, and to resolve registration and enrollment issues. You can enroll using the new AIS On-line system. See more information on this below. On the first day of each quarter, as soon as you are fully enrolled and registered (paid), you may pick up your ID sticker for the quarter from the Graduate Program Assistant.

Call numbers needed to enroll can be found in the Schedule of Classes on the Registrar’s web page. RA courses 297 and 299 are not included in the Schedule of Classes. You can get those enrollment codes(thesis research, etc.) from the Graduate Advisor.

If you are an RA you may to enroll in a PHYS297 if you are not Advanced to Candidacy, or PHYS299 if you are Advanced to Candidacy, with the Professor for whom you are working. Contact the Graduate Program Assistant and tell her the professor name and the number of units you need (to reach 10 for the quarter); she will give you the call number.

The Graduate Program Assistant will be glad to help you figure out correct courses and will often review your enrollment early in the quarter and remind you of any enrollment requirements and deadlines to help insure that you don’t miss anything, but students must complete all enrollment transactions themselves. Proper enrollment and registration each quarter is, of course, the responsibility of the student.

You may request a letter grade or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (pass/fail). No credit can ever be awarded for courses for which you do not officially enroll. Graduate courses cannot be awarded credit by petition. An irreversible Unsatisfactory/Failing grade will be given for courses that you do not attend unless you drop them during the add/drop period.

It is best if you enroll during the open enrollment period. This insures your place in the course and may prevent a course from being cancelled due to lack of interest. It also allows review of your schedule when making TA assignments to avoid schedule conflicts, etc. You must attend the first class meeting of all courses to preserve your place in the class.

After the open enrollment period is over, there is an Add/Drop period during which you may add, drop or exchange a class starting the day after the first class meeting. After the add/drop deadline there is a permission code period. During this time you must contact the Graduate Program Assistant in order to get a permission code to add a course. After the permission code period ends, there is an add by petition period during which you must see the Registrar to complete special forms and pay extra fees to add a course by petition. Your Graduate Program Assistant will need to contact the Graduate Division to get approval for any add/drops after the official dates have passed. After the permission code period, you must contact the Registrar’s Office and complete special forms and pay extra fees to drop a course. After the drop with fee period is over, it is no longer possible to drop a course; if you don’t satisfactorily complete the requirements you will receive a U.

Check the academic calendar for all of the deadlines listed above.

Course Information
The General Catalog includes general program information, course descriptions, course pre-reqs, etc. The Quarterly Schedule of Classes includes the important information for the current quarter: dates, deadlines, list of current offerings, call numbers (needed to enroll), course descriptions, dates, times, locations and instructor information as well as many other useful pieces of information. These items are available on the web and at the Bay Tree Bookstore. The Department Office has copies you can use while at the Department Office counter.

Enrolling for classes
Our new AIS Registration System requires that you enter the student portal and enroll on line. To get on the system if you are a new or continuing student go to http://my.ucsc.edu . This is the on-line enrollment and narrative evaluation system. Use requires your AIS student ID and password. Detailed enrollment instructions are in the Schedule of Classes located on the Registrar’s web page.

Enrollment Help Line 459-3939
Call this number to speak with someone in the Registrar's Office if you are having difficulty enrolling.

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FINANCIAL SUPPORT

The Graduate Division web site has a great section on Financial Support. Please review this when you get time. There are many unfamiliar and unusual fellowship opportunities.

Division of Graduate Studies, 4th Floor Kerr Hall
Financial/Support: Bob Hastings, 459-2335, bobhast@ucsc.edu

The Division of Graduate Studies oversees all UCSC Graduate Studies Programs. They can help you with UCSC campus-wide Graduate policies, procedures, and requirements. They also administer your official UCSC Graduate Student files, and handle tracking and administering many aspects of Graduate Student financial support. They provide programs and assistance regarding Graduate Student life at UCSC and publish the Graduate Student Handbook and the Dissertation Instructions. (Your success could depend upon being familiar with this information).

Payroll Deductions for Payment of Fees: If you will be a TA and your tuition and fees are not fully paid by a fellowship, grant or TA fee reductions, you may arrange for a scheduled Payroll Deduction for Payment of Fees at the Division of Graduate Studies Office.

The Division of Graduate Studies office may also be able to help you with a Short Term Emergency Loan if you find yourself in a bit of an emergency "money crunch".

Financial Aid
201 Hahn Student Services Building, Advisors 459-2963
Contact the Financial Aid office to confirm the status of your financial aid file and aid package (grants, fellowships, loans, etc). Be sure they receive all of the documents that they request. If they haven’t received all of the requested documents it is likely that your financial aid check will be delayed. You can also contact the Financial Aid office if you are interested in getting a student loan. Contact Accounts Receivable, not financial aid, regarding the check once your package has been completed. Make sure to file a FAFSA, the statement of your financial need at the beginning of each new academic year.

Student Business Services Office/Accounts Receivable
203 Hahn Student Services Building, 459-2107
Fall financial aid checks (grants, fellowships, loans, etc.) will be mailed to the address on the Student Portal Checks are mailed from this office on the first day of each quarter. Outstanding UCSC charges are deducted prior to payment. Be sure that the Registrar’s Office has your current address on the Academic Information System (AIS) so that your check is sent your correct address. Contact Accounts receivable if you do not receive your check (unless you have unfinished business with the financial aid office). Allow at least one week for mail delivery. It’s possible that A/R may refer you to financial aid or the Division of Graduate Studies to resolve funding issues. You can arrange for Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit) of fellowships, financial aid and loans through the office of Accounts Receivable. Electronic Funds Transfer will also occur on the first day of the quarter, but funds will go directly into your bank account instead of the mail. You will receive your money more quickly. A/R can set up Deferred Payment Plans for students who are not TAs and whose fees are not paid by other sources.

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Physics Personnel/Payroll Issues
Sarah Schuster, Physics Administrative Manager, schuster@ucsc.edu, 459-4121 or
Jennifer Hild, Graduate Advisor, jhild@ucsc.edu, 459-4122

Hiring Documents & Payroll Actions
Laura Brogan , Physical & Biological Sciences Business Office
Physical Sciences Building Room 511, lbrogan@ucsc.edu, 459-3650

If you are just joining the program or you were not employed by the department the prior quarter, and you would like to T/A or you have an R/Aship, you will need to complete hiring paperwork. T/Aships must be confirmed by the Graduate Program Assistant and R/Aships must be confirmed by the hiring faculty member. Early every fall quarter, new TA/RA hiring takes place at the Physics Department Orientation; bring your picture ID, Social Security Card and/or visa or contact the Natural Science Business Office (NSBO) to complete hiring paperwork.

Payroll Checks
Payroll Office: 113 University Business Park (off campus), 459-2488
When you process your hiring paperwork, you may elect to have your check mailed to your home address or have it mailed to the Physics Department Office. Contact the Payroll office to change the address on your paycheck, switch to/from direct deposit, or hunt down a lost paycheck. If you have your check mailed to the Department Office you will need to come to the Physics Department Office in person to pick it up and sign for it each month, but you won't need to keep changing your address with payroll. You can sign up for direct payroll deposit into your bank account.

TA/RA Fee Reductions
Bob Hastings, Division of Graduate Studies Office
4^th Floor Kerr Hall, 459-2335, bobhast@ucsc.edu

Your Supervisor
The Professor for whom you are a TA or RA.

TA & RA Assignments and Graduate Student Support Tracking
Jennifer Hild, Physics Grad Program Assistant
ISB 211, 459-4122, jhild@ucsc.edu

Prior to the end of every quarter, the Graduate Program Assistant will need to know if you would like to be a T/A or R/A for the following quarter.

Research Assistants
If you will be an R/A, the Graduate Program Assistant will need, every quarter, confirmation of the appointment from the professor who is hiring you. Providing prompt confirmation of the R/A appointment will insure prompt payment of your salary and R/A fee remissions.

Teaching Assistants
If you would like to T/A, prompt confirmation of your availability will help to insure that you receive an appointment. Prior to making course assignments, the Graduate Program Assistant will usually poll the available T/As regarding their preferences. Prompt confirmation of your preferences will insure that your preferences can be considered when the assignments are made. Many factors such as scheduling conflicts, T/A preferences, T/A performance, skills, knowledge and abilities, training of less experienced T/As, the needs of the students, faculty and staff all need to be considered when the assignments are made. Our philosophy is generally, "A happy T/A is usually a better T/A", so every effort will be made to come as close to meeting your preferences as possible, but sometimes this is not possible. If you will be a T/A during your first quarter in the program, please contact the Graduate Program Assistant ASAP to request a T/A Assignment, to find out what that assignment is and how to get started.

TAs work closely with the professor who is teaching the course for which they are hired. Contact the professor for information about course content, instruction, teaching, grading, proctoring expectations etc. In addition to TA meetings called by the professor during the quarter, there are very important T/A logistical meetings the first few days of the quarter. The Graduate Advisor will let you know the date, time and location of any T/A meeting that you are required to attend. T/A appointments begin the first day of each quarter and the T/A meetings are generally held at that time. It is crucial that all T/As attend these meetings. New T/A also attend training sessions, coordinated by the Head T/A — T/A Trainer. T/As should also become familiar with ERES (electronic reserves) web pages where course information is posted. Program Assistants who coordinate the coursework for your courses can give you the ERES URLs and passwords.

Teaching Assistants are represented by the ASE/UAW. The ASE/UAW contract establishes terms and conditions of T/A appointments. T/A names and department addresses are released to the ASE/UAW each term. The contract requires that T/As receive appointment letters and that they accept the appointment in writing. Prompt return of the appointment acceptance form will insure your appointment. Teaching Assistants with eligible academic appointments, totaling between 25% to 50%, which is considered fulltime, are eligible to receive Graduate Student Health Insurance Program(GSHIP) premium remission as well as the educational and registration fee remission in place at the time of the appointment. Students receiving need-based financial aid are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss the impact of this employment on their aid package.

T/A responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: attending the course lectures, T.A meetings and education sessions, conducting discussion sections and/or labs, monitoring section/lab enrollment and attendance, holding regular office hours, reading and grading student examinations promptly, proctoring exams, record keeping for sections/labs, drafting narrative evaluations in a timely manner, grading lab book, etc. Specific information regarding the responsibilities for the course you assigned to will be provided by your Faculty Supervisor, the Head T/A, or your Graduate Advisor. Should your duties change significantly from those outlined above, you will be notified of the changes in writing in advance by your faculty advisor.

International students who will TA for the first time, please note that UCSC requires all new international students who are given teaching assistantships, to demonstrate oral proficiency in English. A passing score on the TEST of Spoken English (TSE) is 50 or higher. If you have a score of 45, you can demonstrate oral proficiency with an oral interview once you arrive on campus. If you have not taken the TSE in your country, you can take the Speaking Proficiency English Proficiency Assessment Kit (SPEAK) which will be administered at UCSC before the fall quarter begins. If you have a TSE score report form please bring a copy. Students who are native speakers of English are exempt from this requirement.

Physics Department T/A Trainer and Head T/A
Currently the head TA is Michael Griffo, ISB 317. 459-5119, mgriffo@physics.ucsc.edu
The Physics Department T/A Trainer and Head T/A conducts group and individual trainings for Teaching Assistants throughout the year. Contact him if you have questions about teaching or the roll of a T/A in the Physics Department.

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LAB MANAGERS

Lower Division Instructional Lab Manager
George Brown (interim), Thimann Labs 111D, 459-4154, gsbrown@ucsc.edu
Most lab T/As work closely with Charlie Crummer who manages the 5/6/7 instructional labs.

Upper Division Instructional Lab Manager
Fred Kuttner, NSII 176, 459-2061, fkuttner@ucsc.edu

Acting Demo Lab Manager
Alex Helman, Thimann Lecture Hall 2, 459-3684, aghelman@ucsc.edu

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GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCES

To download PDF version of this handbook click here.

FACILITIES

Your Office
Graduate students share offices in ISB and NSII. All Physics Department office assignments can be found on the Department Directory or through the Graduate Advisor.

Keys
PBSci Stockroom, Thimann Labs Building loading dock 10-12am and 1-3pm M-F, 459-2785 stockroom@ucsc.edu. When you are assigned an office, you will receive a key request form authorizing you to obtain a key to the building entrance and the office in which you are located. Fill in your home address and take the authorization form to the Natural Sciences Stockroom to get your keys.

Telephone
Dial 6 for an outside line. Dial 9 for UCSC extension (for example 459-4122 can be reached by dialing 94122). The Physics Department Directory includes faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students. The UCSC Campus Directory includes listings of all UCSC administrative offices and an alphabetical listing of all staff and faculty, as well as lots of other useful information about our phone system and other items. UCSC Directory Assistance can be reached by dialing "0", 459-0111 (from off campus) Monday — Friday 8am — 5pm. For phone repairs call 459-3111. We discourage long distance calls and most graduate student phones have no ability to dial out of the area.

Physics Department Graduate Computing and Email
Ramon Berger, NSII 309, 459-3866 (berger@scipp.ucsc.edu) is the graduate computing system administrator. There are many graduate student computers available for your use including two fast and powerful multi-CPU clusters and many duel and single processor stand-alone computers (Linux, Mac, Windows). All can be utilized over the net and there are many demons available for your use. There is a <A HREF "http://maxwell.ucsc.edu/computing/"> graduate computing support web page </A> for more important information about computing resources. When you first join the Physics Graduate Program, contact Ramon to set up your Physics Department computer access and email account and give your new email address to the Graduate Program Assistant. Check your email account on <@physics.ucsc.edu> frequently, or have it forwarded to your active email account as this email account is where the department will send all of your important email.

Communications and Technology Services (CATS)
Most graduate student needs are served by the Physics Graduate Computing services, but CATS also operates 14 instructional computing labs (some include 24hr access, printers, scanners, AIP drives, CD-ROM burning and digitizing equipment), central computing facilities and computer-equipped classrooms, customer support services, internet access, a distributed UNIX environment, and the UCSC computer network system. To access central computing services, registered students must apply for a CATS account.

Computer Jacks
John Coha, Electronics Shop, 459-2606, coha@cse.ucsc.edu

Computer Security Cables
Dave Thayer, Machine Shop, 459-2308, dthayer@ucsc.edu

Media Services
Kerr Hall, http://media.ucsc.edu. Classroom Hotline for classroom A/V and Multi-media equipment, 459-2117. Equipment Check-out, 459-2117

Facilities (Building) Problems
Contact the PBSci Work Order desk at pbsci.facilities@natsciucsc.edu or 459-3498 to place orders with the Physical Plant staff. Malfunctions of electrical, plumbing, locks, lighting, water leaks, heat/ventilation, exhaust fans, fumehoods.

Custodial, Equipment Repairs, Phone Order Changes & Used Furnishings
PBsci Sci Work Order Desk, 459-3498, pbsci.facilities@natsciucsc.edu
Custodial services, used furniture, and repair refrigerators, non-Ultra-Low freezers, ice machines and misc. equipment repair and phone order changes.

Mail
All graduate students have a mailbox in the Physics Department mailroom at ISB 232. Check this mailbox frequently. This mailbox is where the department staff will put all of your important messages, US mail and mail that is sent to you from other campus units, etc. If your office is at SCIPP or you are doing research in the field out of the area, the Graduate Program Assistant will send your mail to you once a week.

In the mailroom, there is a mailbag (maroon) for outgoing on-campus mail and a mailbag (blue) for outgoing US mail. The UCSC Post Office requests that you do not use the US mail bag for personal mail. All outgoing Physics Department US mail needs to include the mail stop #34-140 in the return address so that postage can be charged to our account.

The UCSC Address is: Your Name, Physics Department, UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. Since other addresses may change, but this address will remain constant as long as you are in the program, it is recommended that you use the department address for your address for personnel/payroll, accounts payable and the registrar.

Post Office
Jack Baskin Engineering Loading Dock, 459-2765, mail_services@macmail.ucsc.edu
Post office and mail services, including package and express mail services. Zip Code Information.

Shipping
UC Receiving, H Barn, 459-2852

Home Address and Phone Changes, Office #, Phone Extensions
Please notify the Physics Graduate Program Assistant if your home address or phone number change or if you move to a different office or change your phone extension on campus. When you first start the program, please let the Physics Graduate Program Assistant know your local address, home phone number and physics department email address as soon as possible. The department needs to know how to contact you in emergencies or to assist you in completing the program. Also make sure you make these changes via the Student Portal in AIS. Many campus units depend on the address files maintained at the Office of the Registrar.

Office Supplies, Fax & Photocopies
Office Supplies are located in the Physics Department Kitchen/Supply Room. As an employee of the department, you are welcome to use these office supplies for completing your duties.

There is a photocopy machine in the Physics Department Mailroom, ISB 232. The copy card is located at the front desk. Insert the copy card into the security box on the table next to the copier. Return the copy card when done (or if you find it in the machine). Additional copy card photocopies are located around the building, in libraries and several other locations around campus.

There is a fax machine in the Department Office; fax number 459-3043. We will put any fax sent to your attention into your mailbox. There is also a fax at the SCIPP Office; fax number 459-5777.

Bay Tree Bookstore
The bookstore stocks textbooks, supplies, course catalogues, schedules and has extended hours at the start of the quarter.

Check Cashing
102 Hahn Student Services, 459-2278 Cash up to $25.00, with picture ID.

Automated Teller Machines
Located at the base of the Bay Tree Bookstore

Student ID Number
Your Social Securtiy Number will be converted to a new UCSC ID number. International students have a number assigned by the Division of Graduate Studies.

ID Card Services
Pam Ackerman (pam@bookstore.ucsc.edu), Bay Tree Building near Bookstore, 459-2990,
You can get your Student ID card Monday - Friday 8:30 am — 4:30 pm. Take your picture ID. The student ID is your library card, bus pass, and is used to gain access to many services and facilities around campus.

International Student Programs and VISA Information
105 Classroom Unit Building, 459-2858, visa@ucsc.edu, web: http:// oie.ucsc.edu
If you are an international student, International Student Programs Office can check to be sure your papers are in order. If you an international student and you may TA at any time, you must take an English speaking exam and call 459-2510 to schedule a 15 minute interview. In addition, there will be an International Student Seminar which will meet five times during fall and winter quarters. Contact the International Student Program Office for more information. The key people to contact in this office are Joni MacFarlane (jonimac@ucsc.edu), Babette Scott (ibscott@ucsc.edu), and Sheryl Lee (sheryll@ucsc.edu)

California Residency Information
Office of the Registrar, Laurie Salatich 459-2754

Transportation and Parking Services Information & Parking Sales
TAPS Office, Base of Campus Police Station, Bus Passes
Carpool & Vanpool 459-4543
Main Reception – 459-2190

Your student ID with current quarter sticker is a Santa Cruz Metro bus pass.

All campus parking is by permit only and citations are frequent. Permits are issued at the Parking and Police Building, near the base of campus. You can also make complete an application on-lin at http://www2.ucsc.edu/taps. Lines to buy permits are long at the start of the quarter and applying for a permit on line, in advance, may save you quite a bit of time. Check out the TAPS web site for more information.

TAPS runs shuttles, a BART Connector and a UC Berkeley Library bus. The Airporter (private service, see the Pacific Bell Yellow Pages) also serves campus.

Emergencies: Call 911

Lost and Found
There is a lost and found box in the Physics Department for items left behind in Physics courses.
UCSC Lost and Found is located at the University Policy Office at 459-2231.

McHenry Library
Located just to the east of Kerr Hall, 459-4000,  http://www.ucsc.edu.library/
The general library on campus. Your student ID with current quarter sticker is your library card. Early in fall quarter they give tours of the library and the library computer systems.

Science Library
General Information, 459-0050
Circulation & Renewals, 459-5300
Course Reserves, 459-2865
Reference, 459-2886
Science Librarian for Grads - Christy Caldwell, 459-1287

Located on Science Hill just north of Kerr Hall. Your student ID with current quarter sticker is your library card. Early in fall quarter they give tours of the library and the library computer systems.

Housing

On-Campus Graduate Student Housing
Incoming Graduate Students: 459-3171, Carol Delpo

Community Rentals Program/Off-Campus Housing Information
125 Hahn Center, 459-4435, comrent@housing.ucsc.edu
web site: http://communityrentals.ucsc.edu

Housing in the community is usually a challenge to obtain. Ask fellow graduate students. They are often the best resource for housing leads and they may be able to help fellow students with temporary housing needs. Check with the Graduate Program Assistant as well. Sometimes she has leads.

Childcare

• Infant Center (3-30mo) 459-4073
• Granary Child Development Center 426-3831

Health Services

• Health Services and Insurance Information Cowell Health Center 459-2211
• Counseling and Psychological Services, Cowell Health Center 459-2628
• Dental Clinic, Cowell Health Center 459-2500
• Graduate Student Health Insurance 459-4050 insure@cats.ucsc.edu

Medical, psychological and dental services are provided by the Health Center. Full-time graduate students have a mandatory health coverage plan, the Graduate Health Insurance Plan (GSHIP). Fees not covered by the plan are posted to your University account the day of your visit. Premiums are billed, along with other fees, when you register each quarter. Waivers are available by providing proof of other coverage. Vaccines are available. Counseling and Psychological Services offers a variety of programs and services to help students cope with the stress of academic life; don’t hesitate to see if they have something supportive for you.

More detail below on Health Services:

The Student Health Center at UCSC provides a range of medical, psychiatric and dental services. All registered students are eligible to use the Health Center. There is no out of pocket fee charged to students for office visits. Your registration fees pay for a portion of these expenses. Vaccines are available. Counseling and Psychological Services offers a variety of programs and services to help students cope with the stress of academic life; don’t hesitate to see if they have something that may be helpful for you.

Graduate Student Health Insurance Plans (GSHIP) offer medical, dental and vision coverage. GSHIP premiums are automatically billed on your student account at the beginning of each quarter. The Health Center and it's medical staff are the primary physicians for GSHIP. You must start your treatment at the Health Center. If you need to see a physician off-campus, a referral may be provided from a Health Center physician. After Health Center hours, in the event of an emergency or if you are out of town, you may seek medical treatment anywhere. CCN providers are the contracted off-campus providers with GSHIP and using a CCN provider will maximize your coverage. In these cases, you will need an authorized claim form provided by GSHIP to submit your claim.

Repetitive Stress Injury Prevention
As more and more work, education and recreation involves computers, everyone needs to be aware of the hazard of Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) to the hands and arms resulting from the use of computer keyboards and mice. This can be a serious and very painful condition that is far easier to prevent than to cure once contracted, and can occur even in young physically fit individuals. You may have heard the term Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in connection with these injuries, but in fact CTS is only a small percentage of typing injuries. Tendinitis, Bursitis , Tenosynovitis , Tendonosis , DeQuervain's Syndrome , Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Trigger Finger/Thumb , Myofascial Pain Syndrome, and several other related conditions are also associated with RSI.

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GROUPS AND OTHER INFORMATION WHICH MAY INTEREST YOU

Graduate Student Association
Student Center Building, 459-3142, gsa@cats.ucsc.edu, web: http://wwwe.ucsc.edu.gsa/

MARC: Minority Access to Research Careers
Leo Ortiz, Director, 377 Thimann Lab Building, 459-4770, ortiz@biology.ucsc.edu, Closely connected to MBRS Minority Biomedical Research Support Program.

SACNAS: Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, 459-4272

SOAR: Student Organizations and Resources Student Center Building, 459-2934

Women's Center Cardiff House, 459-2072

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered Resource Center, Crown/Merrill, 459-2468

Disability Resource Center
146 Hahn Student Services Building, 459-2089, disable@ucsc.edu
Provides accommodations for students with both temporary and permanent disabilities. Call for orientation and appointment information during the first week of the quarter.

Welcoming Diversity Receptions:
African American 459-3561
American Indian 459-4446
Asian/Pacific Islander 459-4446
Chicano/Latino 459-5608
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered 459-4385

Office of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports
East Field House 459-2531, West Field House 459-2063, Recreation/Trips/Clubs 459-2806

Performing Arts Performance Information 459-2974, Ticket Office 459-2159

University Events, 459-2876, http://events.ucsc.edu/calendar

Tours
Arboretum Tours, 427-2998
Campus Tours, 459-4008
Farm Tours, 459-4140
Long Marine Laboratory Tours, 459-2883

Art Galleries
Cowell Coffee Shop, Stevenson Fireside Lounge, Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery (Stevenson), Bridge Gallery (Porter), James B. Hall Gallery (Porter), Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery (Porter), Porter Faculty Gallery (Porter), Stevenson Coffeehouse, Women's Art Gallery (Cardiff House).

Eating On Campus
There is a microwave and refrigerator in the Physics Department Kitchen/Supply Room for your use. There are restaurants at Kresge College, Porter College, Merrill College, Oakes College, and by the Baytree Bookstore. See the Eating Facilities section of the Campus Directory for phone numbers and locations. 

The Physics Department Web Home Page URL is: http://physics.ucsc.edu

This Quick Reference Guide is organized on a somewhat loose topical basis.
For an alphabetical listings of Administrative Offices, Faculty/Staff Phone Numbers and Campus Resources see the Campus Directory.

Information on this page is subject to change.

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