Handbook for Graduate Students in Soil Science

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. AUTOMOBILES

a.    Car License-All drivers must have state, international, or other valid driver's license.
b.    Car Insurance - Every driver in North Dakota must have "liability" coverage. International students must have a driver's license and "liability" insurance BEFORE driving. If no "liability" coverage is secured, you must be able to show financial responsibility, e.g., $50,000.00.
c.    General Operation and Safety- http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/515.htm. State law specifically prohibits using a state car for private use: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/7003.htm
d.    Parking- A permit is required for parking on campus. Graduate students are required to use student lots. See parking policies http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/705.htm
A parking permit is required for use of the campus parking facilities. The permit may be purchased at the NDSU Facilities Management Campus Parking Office, Thorson Maintenance Center. Permits for motorcycle parking may also be obtained. Vehicle registration must be shown to obtain extra permits, at an additional cost for each vehicle. For Tri-College parking information refer to the NDSU Traffic Regulation brochure, available at the Campus Parking Office, to determine which lot you can park in on the Moorhead State University and Concordia College campuses while displaying your NDSU parking permit.

2.    COMPUTERS

• Students will be responsible for ALL software and other content on the computer. A laser printer is available in graduate student office for low volume printing.
• All employees, students and other users of North Dakota University System computing facilities shall comply with applicable laws, policies and procedures.
• Users shall not use computing facilities for any illegal purpose or to enter or send any material that is obscene or defamatory, or to enter or send material that is intended to annoy, harass or alarm another person which serves no legitimate purpose.
• User accounts are assigned to a specific individual at a specific entity and may not be shared.
• Access or attempts to gain access to University system computing facilities for any unauthorized purpose, including attempts to obtain, modify, or destroy information or degrade performance, is forbidden.
• Users shall not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. All users shall use software only in accordance with applicable license agreements.
• Users shall not make unauthorized copies of any software under any circumstances.
• Duplication of licensed software for any purpose except for backup and archival purposes or when otherwise specifically authorized is prohibited.
• All software must be lawfully purchased or acquired. Users shall not install or use software on University computing facilities in a manner contrary to law or this policy.
• Employees, students or other users who violate this policy shall be subject to discipline and/or may be denied access to University computing facilities.
• Definitions: 

• Computing facilities means computing resources and network systems, including, but not limited to, computer time, data processing or storage functions, computers, computer systems, servers, networks and their input and output and connecting devices, and related programs, software and documentation.

• Policies:

• The complete list of all the policies governing computer use at NDSU. The complete policies may be found at: http://www.ndsu.edu/policy/710.htm
• The ND University System Policy Manual is also available online: http://www.ndus.edu/policies/sbhe-policies/policy.asp?ref=2429

• The Industrial Agriculture Communication Center (IACC) and several computer clusters on campus provide computers, printers, and software at different locations around campus. These computer clusters are open to all students. Both personal computers and mainframe access computers are available. Hours of availability vary from cluster to cluster and are seasonal, although certain clusters are available 24 hours a day, 7 days/week. The Computer Center staff offers non-credit seminars on several topics such as programming, statistical processing and presentations. Information concerning computer cluster availability and workshop offerings can be obtained by contacting Information Technology Services (ITS) at 231-8685 or www.ndsu.nodak.edu/helpdesk.

3.    CREDIT UNION/BANKING  The Financial Aid Office has short-term loans available. The Northland Educators Federal Credit Union is located at 1404 12th Ave N. Graduate Research Assistants may borrow or deposit money. Many banks are located throughout Fargo.

a.    On Campus Contact Residence Life (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/reslife) or (231-7700) for information on securing housing. A deposit is required to be placed on the waiting list. There may be a delay, depending upon the supply or demand for on-campus housing. Check with Residence Life for rental rates.
Bison Court or University Village (for married students) has unfurnished one and two bedroom apartments. Heating, kitchen stove, and refrigerator are furnished. The student pays electricity and telephone costs.
Dormitory housing is also available for "students older than average" (25 years or older). Doubles and singles are available. You must also purchase a meal plan to live in this facility. The cost of the meal plan varies, depending on the plan.

b.    Off Campus If you choose to live off-campus, there is an off-campus housing list available from the Student Affairs Office (Old Main, Room 100). Other sources of apartment vacancies are: The Forum and Midweek (local newspapers), The Spectrum (campus newspaper), Apartment and FM Rentals Guide (ask at Student Affairs Office), the bulletin boards in the Memorial Union, and on the web at (www.ndsu.nodak.edu/reslife).

a.    Sick Leave Sick leave privileges as 12-month employees (8 hours/month).

b.    Vacation Leave Annual leave privileges as 12-month employees (8 hours/month)

• Each new student should visit Rodney Utter who is the Department's Safety Officer. If you have any questions regarding safety, please do not hesitate to speak with him. His office is Walster Hall room 105 and his phone is 1-7561.

• All NDSU employees, which include graduate students, must attend an annual safety workshop baseline training session. These training sessions will be announced via email and a calendar for training can be found at: www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/police_safety/safety/training/calendar.php

• Visit the Safety Office web page www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/police_safety/safety/safetyoffice.htm for information on Environmental Health, and Public Health and Safety.

• Environmental Health includes the following information: 1) Radioactive Materials, 2) Radiation, 3) Safety, 4) Handbook, 5) Lab and Chemicals, 6) Steps for chemical disposalof major chemical cleanouts, 7) Working with hydrofluoric acid (see: Chemical section), 8) MSDS, 9) Biosafety, 10) Hazardous Material Disposal, 11) Training (Lab/Chemical Safety and Radiation Safety, 12) Air Quality, 13) Integrated Indoor Air Quality Program, 14) Storm Water, and 15) Fire Safety.

• Public Health and Safety includes the following information: 1) Animal Care/Use; 2) Building Inspections; 3) Incident Reporting; 4) Risk Management Policies and FAQ?; 5) Safe Operating Procedure, Handbook and Videos; 6) Training Calendar and Online Training, and Workforce Safety and Insurance FAQ?.

• Plan of Study

• Thesis Proposal

• Abstracts for Graduate Seminar

• Overheads and Slides for Graduate Seminar

• Slides/Posters for Society Meetings (ASA, CSSA, WSSA, ASHS, etc.)

The Department's printers can be used for the FINAL printed copy of a thesis. The secretary can provide the necessary computer commands for laser printing, but it is the student's responsibility to insert commands into the document. Printing must be done without interrupting the daily activities of the secretarial staff and the student must get permission before using the printer. Any printing in excess of one (1) final copy will be charged (per page) to the student.

a.    General See the following Web page for the University's policy for general travel www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/515.htm. Information on this page includes for the following: 1) Means of travel; 2) Travel voucher requirements; 3) Local travel; 4) Out-of-state travel authorization; 5) Foreign travel authorization; 6) Privately owned transportation; 7) In-state mileage; 8) Out-of-state mileage; 9) Commercial airlines; 10) Meal reimbursements; 11) Conference, seminar, or other meeting; and 12) Lodging reimbursements.

b.    Travel to Professional Meetings

• All travel funds for graduate students to regional or national meetings must be from Project Grant or Gift sources. Travel is dependent upon approval of NDSU administration. Travel policy interpretation or approval may vary at times, depending on the number of travel requests to a single meeting or conference, availability of funds, justification for attending, etc.

• Air travel may be approved for graduate students to national meetings during their graduate career at NDSU if the student is presenting a paper and/or interviewing for a job. Funds must come from Grant or Gift money.

• Out-of-state travel involving expense must be requested and approved at least two weeks prior to departure www.ndsu.nodak.edu/accounting/services/travel-auth.html

• Subsistence is determined by the per diem rates for a particular city (Section 6.6 in www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/515.htm).

• Registration fees may be paid if approval is obtained from NDSU administration on the travel request.

• Receipts are required for lodging and most other special items except food, and are reimbursed after returning from the meeting and filling out a travel expense voucher form (http://www.ndsu.edu/accounting/csforms/forms/NDSUtravelAug09.xls).

c.    Travel Regulations (Project Related)

 

•  Individuals must complete a "blanket" travel authorization form annually, which covers trips less than 50 miles outside of the North Dakota border.

   

• Travel authorization forms must be completed for each trip farther than 50 miles outside of the North Dakota border. All out-of-state authorization forms must be completed at least two weeks prior to travel. www.ndsu.nodak.edu/accounting/services/travel-auth.html

• A travel expense voucher is completed after returning from the trip and turned in to the Soil Science main office at the end of each month you traveled. Receipts are required for lodging and most other special items except food. There is a maximum in state and out-of-state per diem for meals and lodging. Reimbursement usually is made by check within two weeks after the travel voucher is submitted. Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Casselton, Prosper, and Northwest 22 are considered normal place of employment and, therefore, expense vouchers are not submitted for time spent at these nearby locations.

• Link for voucher (www.ndsu.nodak.edu/accounting/csforms/forms/NDSUtravelAug09.xls)