New Student Information
Faculty Advisors
You will be assigned a GAC faculty advisor based on the first letter of your last name. You must meet your faculty advisor before enrolling in classes for fall quarter. During Orientation we will let students know when they can schedule time to meet with their advisor. Graduate students are assigned to specific advisors based on the first letter of your last name:
| Faculty Adviser | Alpha | Office # | Phone # | E-mail Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Boucher | A - C | 2105 | 752-1527 | boucher@primal.ucdavis.edu |
| James Wilen | D - H | 3102 | 752-6093 | wilen@primal.ucdavis.edu |
| Julian Alston | I - M | 2157 | 752-3283 | julian@primal.ucdavis.edu |
| Aaron Smith, Graduate Administrative Committee Chair |
N - R | 3103 | 752-2138 | adsmith@ucdavis.edu |
| Travis Lybbert | S - Z | 2155 | 554-1393 | tlybbert@ucdavis.edu |
Fall 2009 Classes and registration
Once you have met with your advisor, you can register for classes. Log on to Student Information System on the Web (SISWEB). SISWEB can be used to enroll in classes, adjust class schedules, view and print class schedules, notify the university of a change of address, view financial aid status, etc. See Fall Quarter 2009 Class Schedule & Registration Guide for more details (fall schedule should be available May 5). All students must register for 12 units. The ARE fall schedule will also be on the department website. Instruction begins Thursday, September 24. International students, you will not be able to register until you have checked in with SISS (Services for International Students & Scholars), located at 100 University House.
International Student Orientation Program
Upon arriving at Davis please check with the SISS located at 100 University House. International students are required to attend the International Student Orientation Program offered September 14, 2009. For more information please contact SISS by email at siss@ucdavis.edu by telephone at (530) 752-0864, or online. PLEASE NOTE: International students that are attending Math Camp, it is critical that you attend the SISS all-day orientation to learn the complex immigration regulations you must follow in order to maintain your lawful immigration status.
Examination in English for International Students
The TRC (Teaching Resource Center) has scheduled dates for the SPEAK test dates throughout the year to help international graduate students meet their SPEAK-test requirement, and to facilitate departmental planning of TA assignments. For more information visit http://trc.ucdavis.edu/?page_ie=115. In order to take the exam, you must first schedule a test date, in person, at the Teaching Resources Center in the basement of Wellman Hall, room 17.
Office of Graduate Studies Week of Orientation and Welcome (WOW)
You are all invited to participate in the fall 2009 seventh annual WOW. This is a week of social and academic orientation activities and workshops for graduate students. This event is held September 14 - 18. For more information visit the Office of Graduate Studies.
ARE Orientation:
ARE New Student Orientation will be on September 17, 2009 from 9:00am - 3:00pm followed by a reception from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Detailed information will be sent to you at a later date.
Keys:
You will be issued a departmental access key during orientation and PhD students will be assigned an office. You will also be issued a Library and Computer Lab access card with a $10/per access security deposit ($20 total), once you have attended the separate Computer Services and Library Orientation meetings during orientation.
Library
The Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) Library is located on the fourth floor of the Social Sciences and Humanities building (the same building which houses all of our departmental offices). It has over 8,300 books and journal volumes as well as approximately 150,000 pamphlets and government documents. The Library's staff is available to assist you Monday through Friday (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) using electronic and print resources to locate needed information for your research. The library is accessible to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the use of your access key card. Group study sessions are always welcome.
Computer Facility
The ARE Computer Services Unit provides computing services using servers running Red Hat Linux, Macintosh and Windows PCs. The computer lab, located on the third floor of the Social Sciences and Humanities building, is available to graduate students using your key card. Electronic key cards are issued by Duncan Pohl in the main office (SS&H 2117). Computer Services staff members are available during business hours to provide computer support. For more specific information, check the ARE webpage.
UC Davis Email Accounts
You will receive a departmental email account at the Computer Services Orientation on September 17. In the meantime, you can obtain a UC Davis email account through the web or go to IT Express, 182 Shields Library.
ID Cards
Get your picture ID card at the Registrar's office at 12 Mrak Hall (M – F 9:00-4:00pm). You must have a valid driver's license or other form of valid photo ID.
Student Health Insurance
Your graduate student health insurance will become effective the first day of the quarter, Monday, September 22. To review SHIP visit the Student Health Services website. If you plan to continue to carry private insurance download the 2009/10 SHIP Waiver found on the above website. Return the form and documentation to the Cowell Health Center by September 17, 2009.
Student Employment
Employment assignments are made on a quarter-by-quarter basis. A call for student employment requests will be sent out approximately a month before each quarter begins. We try our best to match faculty/student requests with department needs. Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) are supported from funded research projects undertaken by individual faculty members subject to the availability of funds and the preferences of the faculty, and the approval of the Department Chair. Normally, GSRs are expected to work 20 hours per week and will be appointed at 46.9% of fulltime during the academic year. Fulltime appointments during the summer are possible if funding is available. GSR appointments at 25% or greater entitles the student to a fee remission that covers all instate fees for each quarter in which the student is employed.
Teaching appointment titles, TA positions, Readers, and AI (Associate Ins) in the ARE department are limited and competitive. TA appointments are usually 50% of fulltime. Reader appointments are usually 25% of fulltime. Appointments at 25% or greater entitles the student to a partial fee remission that covers all instate fees each quarter in which the student is employed as a TA (except campus enhancement fees totaling approx. $215.30 which the student is responsible for). If you are interested in being a TA at any point in your academic career, you must attend an Orientation for New Teaching Assistants hosted by the Teaching Resource Center (TRC). Date for orientation is September 22. For online registration visit http://trc.ucdavis.edu/?page_id=1350. ARE's Graduate Student Association (GSA) will also host an annual TA Retreat. Details of the TA Retreat are to be announced. Refreshments and food will be provided and all incoming graduate students are encouraged to attend!
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
Our departmental GSA chapter gives students a voice in departmental issues and an avenue for problem resolution. In addition, money is given to each department by the GSA to fund social activities for students, faculty, and staff.
| Title | Officer(s) |
|---|---|
| President | Joseph Janzen |
| Vice President | Joanna Parks |
| Treasurer | Scott McNiven |
| GSA Representative | Matthew Reimer, Lucas Bair, Timothy Rakitan, Jonathan Cook |
| TA Retreat Organizer | Richard Volpe |
| Donut/Bagel Wrangler | Kate Fuller |
| Prelim Party Planner | Jay Abolofia, Olena Sambucci |
| Managing Director of Social Activities | Kelly Grogan |
| Social Committee | Sharon Shewmake, David Heres Del Valle, Dale Manning, Meagan Hanbury, Justin Kagin, Conner Mullally, David Kling |
| Brown Bag Organizer | Scott McNiven, Henry An |
| Sports Coordinator | Casey Bolt |
| Sam Cup Coach | Casey Bolt, Joanna Parks |
| Business Carder | Peter Howard |
| Computer/Library Liaison | Peter Howard, David Dunmire |