| | 25 | |
| | 26 | == Columbia University Policies == |
| | 27 | |
| | 28 | === Insurance === |
| | 29 | |
| | 30 | The University requires all graduate students to have adequate insurance. There are two levels of insurance that students can choose through the University: basic and comprehensive. The Astronomy Department pays for the cost of the basic level of insurance, whereas the comprehensive costs $800 more spread over the two semesters. Comprehensive insurance, as the name suggests, provides you with smaller co-pays, larger percentage of coverage on medical expenses and more. |
| | 31 | |
| | 32 | Between September 1st and September 30th of each year, you must choose which insurance policy you want. If you do not choose during this time, you will be defaulted to basic coverage. You *cannot* enroll in comprehensive after September 30th, so don't even try. In order to enroll, please visit [http://health.columbia.edu/insurance/enroll-upgrade-waive this page]. |
| | 33 | |
| | 34 | === Course Registration === |
| | 35 | |
| | 36 | ==== Residency Units ==== |
| | 37 | |
| | 38 | At the beginning of each semester (or the end of the previous one), all graduate students must register for courses. Even students who have completed all of their course requirements need to continue to register with the University under the "Residency Unit" to prove that they are still full-time students. If you fail to do this, you can be fined by the University and/or part of your paycheck may disappear. To register, please visit [https://ssol.columbia.edu/ SSOL] and click on registration appointments to see when you are allowed to register. If you are presently allowed to register, click on the registration link and follow the procedures. |
| | 39 | |
| | 40 | Students in their first 3 years of study (or students in their first 2 years of study who possess "advanced standing") must register for a [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/RESI/G0001-20103-001/ Full-Time Residency Unit] (generally call number 99991). Students in subsequent years of study must register for an [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/EXRS/G0001-20103-001/ Extended Residence Unit] (generally call number 77771). N.B. Students on "Matriculation and Facilities" (museum students) may have slightly different procedures. Check with Millie. |
| | 41 | |
| | 42 | ==== Non-Astro Coursework ==== |
| | 43 | |
| | 44 | While our primary mission as astronomy graduate students is to train to become professional scientists, there are sometimes worthwhile courses outside of astronomy. Courses in physics, geosciences, mathematics, computer science, and engineering are generally encouraged by the faculty if it is related to our research interests. In addition, it is generally permissible to take a course totally outside our research field (i.e. music, foreign language, etc.) as long as that course doesn't take up too much of our time. The unspoken policy is to never take more than one non-departmental course at a time, and keep focused on our own research. Informing your advisor and peers of your decision is optional. |
| | 45 | |
| | 46 | === Graduate Student Progress Report === |
| | 47 | |
| | 48 | Every year, Columbia University graduate students in their 3rd year or beyond in all departments are required to prove to the University that they're making adequate progress on their PhD research. This condition was set up for students in other departments who have little interaction with their advisors, and it serves more as an unnecessary logistical hurdle for students in our department who are blessed with lots of advisor interaction. That said, it must be done or the University (i.e. Jan Allen) will make things very difficult for you preventing you from registering for classes and more. |
| | 49 | |
| | 50 | Between January 15 and March 15 of each school year, you *must* complete the simple description of progress on your research. Don't get too technical or detailed because it's just Jan Allen who will be reading this. Once you've completed this, your advisor will comment on what you wrote, and then you have an opportunity to comment again by April 15. Just keep it simple and get it done early. You can access the form on the PhD Progress Link under your [https://ssol.columbia.edu/ SSOL] account. |
| | 51 | |
| | 52 | === University Housing === |
| | 53 | |
| | 54 | Student housing subsidized by the University in the Morningside Neighborhood is guaranteed for all GSAS PhD candidates at Columbia for 5 years. After this period, students must *justify* why they must remain in housing for each additional year for two years maximum. |
| | 55 | |
| | 56 | For students wishing to change their housing option (move into another apartment within the university system), please see the [http://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/overview UAH page]. |
| | 57 | |
| | 58 | == Fellowship Applications == |
| | 59 | |
| | 60 | There are several fellowships and grants available to graduate students in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. Grants and fellowships are great because they give you money, make your advisors happy because you gave them money, get you better equipment, get you to more conferences, and look great on your CV. However, many of these grants *only* apply to first- or second-year graduate students, so now is the time to apply. Many of the grants have deadlines in the first 2-3 months of the school year. |
| | 61 | |
| | 62 | Please note the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship---you should definitely apply to this one (Deadline early November). |
| | 63 | |
| | 64 | Our department does not have a comprehensive list of these fellowships (hint to other do-gooders), however, University of Washington and Cornell have good resources for them. I have included these below. Obviously these are not exhaustive lists, and not all of them will apply to everyone of us (especially white males > 2 years into the program), but it is a good place to get started. Additionally, I recommend asking your research advisors if they have any suggestions for grants to which you might apply--it's never too early. |
| | 65 | |
| | 66 | [http://www.astro.washington.edu/grad/support.html University of Washington's Astronomy Grant List] |
| | 67 | |
| | 68 | [http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/?p=132 Cornell University's Astronomy Grant List] |
| | 69 | |
| | 70 | === NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute === |
| | 71 | |
| | 72 | [http://www.nsfsi.org Application Forms and Description] - Deadline Nov 10. |
| | 73 | |
| | 74 | The National Science Foundation (NSF) East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI) is a flagship international fellowship program for developing the next generation of globally engaged U.S. scientists and engineers knowledgeable about the Asian and Pacific regions. The Summer Institutes are hosted by foreign counterparts committed to increasing opportunities for young U.S. researchers to work in research facilities and with host mentors abroad. Fellows are supported to participate in eight-week research experiences at host laboratories in Australia, China, Japan (10 weeks), Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan from June to August. The program provides a $5,000 summer stipend, round-trip airfare to the host location, living expenses abroad, and an introduction to the society, culture, language, and research environment of the host location. |
| | 75 | |
| | 76 | NSF recognizes the importance of enabling U.S. researchers and educators to advance their work through international collaborations and the value of ensuring that future generations of U.S. scientists and engineers gain professional experience beyond this nation's borders early in their careers. The program is intended for U.S. graduate students pursuing studies in fields supported by the National Science Foundation. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply for the EAPSI. Applicants must be enrolled in a research-oriented master's or PhD program and be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents by the application deadline date. Students in combined bachelor/master degree programs must have matriculated from the undergraduate degree program by the application deadline date. |
| | 77 | |
| | 78 | == Textbooks == |
| | 79 | |
| | 80 | Can anyone comment on some good/bad textbooks that students should/shouldn't buy on various astrophysical/mathematical/statistical/programming topics? |
| | 81 | |
