Did You Know?

Sign Up to be on the GSA List Server

Have you ever missed a Graduate Student Association event because you didn't know it was happening? GSA has created a list server where GSA can directly inform you of graduate issues and events – including Woodstock's Free Pizza Night and alternate venues for Coffee/Bagel/Donut Day.  

To sign up, just send an e-mail to listproc@ucdavis.edu and write in the message box "sub gsals your name ".  Remove the quotation marks and replace "your name" with your real name.
Example: sub gsals John Smith.  
Once signed up, you will start receiving e-mails from the GSA list server (gsals@ucdavis.edu). If you have any trouble signing up, you can find answers at the IET Web site (http://email.ucdavis.edu/eml/listprocFAQ.php#sub-ucd).

For more information please visit the GSA Web site (http://gsa.ucdavis.edu) or contact the GSA Campus Organizing Director Matthew Thompson (gsacod@ucdavis.edu).

Internship and Career Center

Whether you aspire to an academic career or a career beyond the Ivory Tower, the Internship and Career Center has a variety of resources to help you on your path. We offer one-on-one career advising, specialty workshops, and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics, including: how to craft a C.V. and cover letter, transferring your skills outside of academia, and career options in various fields. For more information, visit https://iccweb.ucdavis.edu or contact Kathi Shull (kjshull@ucdavis.edu) or Teresa Dillinger (tldillinger@ucdavis.edu) to schedule an appointment.

Deadline: SHIP Waiver Applications

SHIP waiver applications for the 2008-09 academic year become available online in May at http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu. Final deadlines for waiver applications are August 18, 2008 for law students and September 18, 2008 for quarter students. Waiver applications must be filed each academic year. If you have already waived off SHIP for 2007-08, and you want to maintain your waived status for 2008-09, you must file a new waiver application by the fall term deadline.

Electronic Financial Aid Notices (eFAN) for 2008-09

Graduate students are advised to visit the UC Davis Financial Aid Web site after May 1 to view any departmental or outside awards they may have been awarded, and to view and satisfy any open requirements posted by the Financial Aid Office. Your eligibility for "need-based" financial aid loans will be determined in late September to allow departmental and outside awards time to be awarded and posted to your account. The Financial Aid Office will notify you at the beginning of fall quarter 2008 of when you will be able to view and accept your need-based financial aid awards, download and print related forms, and accept or decline your Direct Loans. For more information, visit http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu, e-mail gradfinaid@ucdavis.edu, or call (530) 752-9246.

Participate in Research Studies

USDA, ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center seeks volunteers for its research studies. One goal of our research is to create and test food-based strategies, or “nutrition interventions” to improve human health. Volunteers receive financial compensation for their participation. Most study visits are held on the UC Davis campus. Volunteers can live in Yolo, Sacramento, or surrounding counties. To learn about new studies, call (530) 752-5177 or visit their Web site at http://www.ars.usda.gov/pwa/davis/whnrc.

Summer SHIP Coverage

If you are enrolled in SHIP for spring quarter/semester as a registered student, your coverage continues through the summer. This also applies to students who graduate at the end of spring term. More information is available at http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/insurance/ship0708/cost-dates.html.

Nature’s Theater – Interactive Nature Stories for Kids

Kids! Do you want to help the Birdman remember how to be a bird? Or perhaps you would like to re-name plants with Mother Nature? Or maybe you would like to join the Animal Circle Club? This is your chance! Nature’s Theater is an opportunity for you to become part of a story and learn from characters like Mother Nature, Planthead, Summer, and the Fool. Each outing is an opportunity to get outside, play and learn a little bit more about the secrets of nature. By the way, we’ve spoken to Mother Nature, and she’s excited to share her secrets with you.

Parents! Nature’s Theater is an innovative approach to helping children develop a healthy relationship with the natural world. Children are invited to explore Stebbins Cold Canyon with different characters, including: Mother Nature, Trashman, Winter, the Spirit of Water and more. These characters engage the children in a story that highlights age-appropriate environmental issues. See RSVP info on firont page to reserve your spot.

ANIMAL CIRCLE CLUB – Sunday, 4/6, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (For ages 6-10)
NAMING DAY with Mother Nature – Saturday, 4/12, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (For ages 6-10)
ANIMAL CIRCLE CLUB – Sunday, 4/13, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (For ages 4-8)
HOW THE FLOWERS GOT THEIR COLORS – Sunday, 5/4, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (For ages 4-8)
MOTHER NATURE and the Toddlers – Sunday, 5/18, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (For ages 1-4)
THE SPIRIT OF WATER – Sunday, 6/8, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (For ages 6-10)

Tax Information

During winter quarter and in preparation for filing the FAFSA, many students have questions about their income tax returns while filing the FAFSA. Here are a few helpful links:
For questions about your taxable interest on loans (Form 1098), go to http://studentaccounting.ucdavis.edu/tax.cfm.
For questions to assist you in determining how to report various resources, check out these publications at the IRS Web site http://www.irs.ustreas.gov.

• Publications 970: Scholarship and fellowship reporting  information.  
• Publication 525: Includes information on how to report military benefits, income from personal property, unemployment, worker's compensation, etc.

Reporting Outside Resources – Reminder from the Graduate Financial Aid Office

We would like to remind all graduate students to report any additional or new awards they receive or expect to receive from their academic department or graduate group programs for spring quarter 2008. Some examples of late awards include the spring fee remissions from a TA or GSR position, block grants, or stipends. This reporting could prevent an overaward or a bill you would be charged if your aid exceeds your budget or financial aid eligibility for this 2007-08 academic year. Many students will have their loans reduced or cancelled when they become overawarded above the basic academic year budget.

Professional Development Series

The Professional Development Series (PDS) provides a variety of training opportunities on topics of professional development interest to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. PDS is offered by the Office of Graduate Studies and co-sponsored by other UC Davis units. For a listing of events please go online to http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/pds or contact Teresa Dillinger (tldillinger@ucdavis.edu).

Blue Cross of California Name Change

As of April 1, 2008 Blue Cross of California started doing business as Anthem Blue Cross. This means Blue Cross of California products and services will be offered under the Anthem Blue Cross brand. Members will now log into http://www.anthem.com/ca instead of http://www.bluecrossca.com to access the secure member web tools. Members who have already set up a username and password with Blue Cross will continue to access information at Anthem by using the same username and password, providing the existing information meets the Web site security standards. If not, the member will be prompted to make necessary updates upon login. If you need assistance, please call the number on the back of your ID card (1-800-888-2108).

Check your eFAN for Verification

Your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) may have been selected for the verification process. We ask graduate students during spring and summer months to check their eFAN at http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu to see if they have any requirements listed. If selected, the requirements will be to submit a Verification Worksheet and a complete copy of their 2007 Federal Income Tax return and W-2s. Failure to submit all required forms or documentation will result in not being offered financial aid in the fall.

Obtaining Medical Care Away from Davis

If you are outside of the Davis area during the summer and are in need of non-emergency medical services, please remember that you must obtain a referral from Cowell Student Health Center BEFORE receiving off-campus medical services. SHIP claims will not be considered for payment without prior referral from CSHC. To verify your SHIP eligibility and obtain a referral, call a SHIP Coordinator at CSHC (530) 752-6055. Please leave a detailed message so the SHIP Coordinator may return your call and provide you with a referral as soon as possible. For medical emergencies, go to an urgent care or emergency facility for treatment. Referral by CSHC is not required for emergency treatment.

Teaching Resources

Ever wish you could learn more about teaching but find that you can’t seem to get away from your computer? The “Tomorrow’s Professor” listserv, hosted by Stanford University, provides a handy solution – it will send two interesting postings about teaching and higher education to your e-mail inbox each week for free. To look at some previous postings, check out their Web site at http://ctl.stanford.edu/Tomprof/postings.html#teaching and its accompanying blog at http://amps-tools.mit.edu/tomprofblog/archives/tomorrows_teaching_and_learning, or sign up at http://ctl.stanford.edu/Tomprof/subscribe.html. If you have any questions, please contact Mikaela Huntzinger (pmhuntzinger@ucdavis.edu) or at (530) 752-9088.

Stressed Out?...

Need something to calm and relax you? Feel like you’re not performing at your best? The Stress & Wellness Clinic is here for you. The Stress & Wellness Clinic is a Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) sponsored program designed to address student needs specific to stress and anxiety, while improving an overall sense of well-being. The clinic offers a number of workshops, groups, and one-on-one counseling sessions aimed to provide you with strategies and information proven to help decrease symptoms of stress. To find out more about our Stress & Wellness Clinic, call CAPS at (530) 752-0871 and ask to schedule an appointment with one of the Stress & Wellness specialists.

2008-09 SHIP News

New SHIP fees and benefit changes for the 2008-09 academic year will become available in May on the CSHC Web site at http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu. Please remember to check your campus e-mail account periodically throughout the summer for SHIP updates.

Changing Your Registration Status

Are you planning to change your registration status, such as going on PELP or Filing Fee, graduating or withdrawing from UCD? Plan ahead by becoming informed about its impact on your SHIP eligibility, enrollment, and fees. Go to http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/insurance/ship0708/eligibility.html for detailed information.

Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant SHIP Fees

If you are a TA or a RA and have a question about whether or not your SHIP fee will be paid on your behalf, contact your department office. Remission of SHIP fees is determined and managed through your individual graduate departments.

Moving?

Please remember to update your mailing address on SISWEB or at the Office of Registrar. If you don’t keep your current mailing address on file, you may not receive important information from Blue Cross, Delta Dental, and Cowell Student Health Center.

Jobs!

Don’t forget to check out postdoc and graduate student employment postings at http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/employment.