Integrative Biology Graduate Program Handbook-Miscellaneous Information for New Students

Miscellaneous Information for New Students

• Miscellaneous Information for New Students
  • Activate your NetID
  • Get your UW Photo ID Card (Wiscard) 
  • Enroll in Classes 
  • Pick up your free Madison Metro bus pass 
  • Attend the New Graduate Student Welcome, hosted by the Graduate School 
  • The Guide to Graduate Student Life 
  • Attend Program Orientation Events 
  • Program/Department Resources for Students 
  • Get Involved in the Graduate Student Organization 
  • Get Involved in Related Organizations 

Activate your NetID

You will need your NetID and password to access the My UW-Madison portal at my.wisc.edu. To activate your NetID click on the ACTIVATE NETID button from the My UW Madison login screen. Enter your 10 digit student campus ID number and birthdate. The NetID you create and password you enter are keys to your access to the MyUW portal, so make a record of it and keep it private. If you are unsure about your NetID and password, contact the DoIT Help Desk at 608-264-4357.

Get your UW Photo ID Card (Wiscard) 

Enroll in Classes 

Get your own Wiscard ID- photo taken at the Wiscard office (wiscard.wisc.edu/contact.html) in Union South, room 149, M-F 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. You must be enrolled and have valid identification, such as a valid driver's license, passport, or state ID) to get your photo ID.

Pick up your free Madison Metro bus pass 

A student's advisor and advisory committee will determine specific courses that the student should take.

All students in the Department of Biology must be given permission each semester to enroll in research credits, Zoology 990. Please note that the course will appear closed, but because of the permission the “closed course” will be overridden.

To request permission to enroll in Zoology 990, email the Graduate Program Manager, and provide the following information:

• your name
• campus ID
• name of your advisor
• term in which you want to enroll

They will send you a confirmation email so you can enroll through your Student Center in MyUW.

Get your UW Photo ID Card (Wiscard) 

The Guide to Graduate Student Life 

As a UW student, you can pick up a bus pass at no charge from the Memorial Union at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Visit the ASM Web site for more information on Madison Metro bus services: https://transportation.wisc.edu/commuter-solutions/bus/. Be sure to bring your UW Photo ID card. Prerequisite: You must be enrolled.

Attend Program Orientation Events 

This event provides a great opportunity to mingle with Graduate School deans and staff, hear from a panel of current students about grad student life, learn about the many campus and community resources available to you, and meet other new graduate students from across campus. Learn more and register here: grad.wisc.edu/newstudents/ngsw/

Program/Department Resources for Students 

The Guide is published annually by the Graduate School and contains a wealth of essential information for new graduate student. It covers information about the city of Madison, student services, finances, employment, housing, transportation, shopping, local services, recreation, and healthy living. Check it out at https://grad.wisc.edu/new-students/.

Get your UW Photo ID Card (Wiscard) 

Get Involved in Related Organizations 

The Department of Biology hosts an orientation for new graduate students at the end of August. This event is required for all new students in the Integrative Biology graduate program. Orientation typically begins with a light breakfast, and topics covered include welcome and introductions, transition to graduate school, and program specific information. Guest speakers are also invited to share a variety of campus resources.

Students have access to computers, offices, copiers, supplies, mailboxes, and phones.

IT support is provided by UW-Madison Information Technology (DoIT)

Graduate students can find information about department resources and services on our website https://integrativebiology.wisc.edu/ (click “iBio Employee Resources”) such as Building Services, Business Services (such as purchasing, travel, mail & packages, reimbursements of expenses, human resources), and Resources (dept letterhead, logos, fax cover sheets).

The University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum is associated with the Department of Biology. The collections in the museum provide an excellent resource that graduate students can access in support of research projects.

Biology faculty in the Center for Limnology operate a year-round field station in the Northern Highland Lake District in northern Wisconsin (Trout Lake Station) and a working research station on the shores of Lake Mendota (Arthur D. Hasler Laboratory of Limnology). These stations provide access to a wide variety of aquatic ecosystems and their surrounding landscapes, which provide an excellent teaching and research resource for Integrative Biology graduate students. 

http://integrativebiology.wisc.edu/graduate-program/graduate-student-organization/

iBioGO is a community for Integrative Biology graduate students and students associated with the Department of Biology. All graduate students in the department are welcome to all events and can participate in any way they choose. The goal of iBioGO is to create a supportive community for graduate students in pursuing research and teaching, and in making the most of life in Madison.

During a typical semester, Integrative Biology students come together to:

• Meet monthly for informal seminars and a pizza lunch. Seminars focus on professional development for graduate students. Also during seminars, representatives keep graduate students up-to-date on department news.
• Have a few social events a month.
• Have department retreats.
• Conduct department outreach.
• Have a holiday party once a year at the end of the fall semester, with faculty, graduate students, academic and office staff, and anyone who has worked with the department that year.
• Work to promote inclusivity, racial justice, and equity.

• The Center for Ecology and Environment is the umbrella organization for all ecologists at UW-Madison. Its goal is to facilitate the work of ecologists at the university, and to represent their interests. The Center promotes interaction among ecologists at UW-Madison in order to foster research, instruction, and outreach; build connections and networks across the large and diverse community of UW- Madison ecologists; and provide a gateway to information about ecology at UW- Madison. The center conducts many activities on campus, including a campus-wide symposium each semester, graduate student social events, and an undergraduate summer job fair. To learn about how to join the Center for Ecology and Environment, visit http://ecology.wisc.edu/.
• The J.F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution is a cross-college institute whose mission is to foster multidisciplinary research to address complex biological problems facing society, and to improve public understanding of evolution through education and outreach. The Crow Institute organizes many events, including weekly talks on evolutionary biology. For more information, visit http://evolution.wisc.edu/.