Freshwater and Marine Sciences Graduate Program Handbook-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
• 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)

Get your UW ID card - Wiscard - 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.

Enroll in classes

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

Students usually need to get permission each semester to enroll in research credits (e.g., ZOO 990). Please note that the course will appear closed, but because of the permission the “closed course” will be overridden. Consult your advisor for the appropriate steps to get permission to enroll in research credits.

Pick up your free Madison Metro bus pass

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://www.asm.wisc.edu/resources/buspass/. Be sure to bring your UW Photo ID card. Prerequisite: You must be enrolled.

Attend the New Graduate Student Welcome, hosted by the Graduate School

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/

The Guide to Graduate Student Life

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/.

Attend Program Orientation Events

FMS hosts an orientation for new graduate students at the end of August in partnership with the Department of Integrative Biology. 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.

Get Involved in Related Organizations

• Water@UW-Madison is an umbrella organization that connects water scholars across the UW-Madison campus. Our goal is to facilitate communication among members of the UW-Madison water community and to convey the scope and diversity of UW-Madison's water research to the UW community and beyond.

• Center for Ecology and the 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 the Environment, visit http://ecology.wisc.edu/.