Graduate Orientation Handbook
Communication / UF Bureaucracy / Resources
Email and Communication with the History Department
Addresses. Please complete the address form and return it to the department office right away. We must have an accurate address and phone number for each graduate student on file in the graduate office at all times. Please let us know when you have changed your contact information.
Completion of Degree. As you near the completion of your degree (either M.A. or Ph.D.) you should consult the Graduate School web pages about deadlines and procedures. Remember that it is often difficult to schedule oral examinations during the busy weeks at the end of the spring semester, and it is often impossible to gather your committee for a summer defense. If you do schedule a summer examination you must be registered for at least 2 credits. If the exam must be postponed until the following fall you must be registered for 3 fall credits. If you finish everything (the oral examination, incompletes, etc.) before classes begin in any given term you do not have to register for that following term, but you must apply for the degree.
Communication. The Graduate Coordinator and Graduate Program Assistant will typically use e-mail as the medium of communicating with graduate students. It is the responsibility of the graduate students to maintain and check their e-mail often to ensure that this communication is successful. Students are responsible for any information that is sent out on the Graduate Student listserv.
E-mail addresses, user name, and password. All students must create a Gatorlink email account (example: jdoe@ufl.edu). When you have created your Gatorlink email account please notify the Graduate Program Assistant and you will be placed on a departmental graduate listserve, which is our main resource for communicating information that is vital to your graduate career. It is very important that you check your email at least once a week and pay close attention to the emails sent to the listserve. You are responsible for keeping track of your Gatorlink username and password. If you forget your Gatorlink password, you can reset it at my.UFL.edu. Gatorlink email is accessible from any computer with internet access. Please see the Graduate Program Assistant or call 352-392-HELP for assistance.
Financial Aid. The department offers financial aid in the form of Assistantships (a broad category that includes TAs, graders, Research Assistants, and Teaching Associates). Students who have been awarded four- or five-year fellowships must maintain a 3.5 GPA and make acceptable progress toward degree completion in order to remain eligible for assistance. Each Spring the Graduate Committee conducts a review of the students’ progress. Students will be asked to affirm their interest in funding for the next year. In the case of continuing students who did not enter with funding or who have already fulfilled their fellowship contract, the Graduate Committee assesses individual progress while consulting with the Chair about the number of available assistantships for the coming year with the objective of funding as many students as possible.
The department does not routinely offer funded positions to terminal M.A. students, but on occasion positions have come available for advanced masters students. Students should consult the University’s Office for Student Financial Affairs (SFA) for information about loans and other financial aid options.
Grades. The main office will not give out grades to students; final grade information is available from ISIS. For individual test grades, paperwork is maintained by the instructor for one full year. Grade changes are to be made by the faculty instructor only, and are processed by the main office.
Mailboxes. Graduate student mailboxes are located in the Graduate Student Lounge. No personal mail is to be delivered to campus. Boxes and books will be held in the Graduate Program Assistant’s office for pick up. Please check your mailbox at least once a week.
University of Florida Bureaucracy
Florida State Residency. The University of Florida and the Department of History expect U.S. citizens and resident aliens to file for Florida residency during the first year. You may sign a form called a Declaration of Domicile, which registers your intent to become a citizen of the State of Florida, at the Alachua County Court House for a fee of approximately $15.00. In determining residency, the university may require evidence such as a voter registration, driver’s license, automobile registration, rent receipts and any other relevant materials as evidence that the applicant has maintained 12-months residence prior to qualification as a bona fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence. Please be sure to list your Florida address as your permanent address with the University, since this signifies your intent to become a Florida citizen. U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents who choose not to apply for Florida residency after their first year may be responsible for the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
For a further discussion of Florida Residency consult the Office of Admissions web page.
Application forms for residency can be obtained from the University Registrar’s Office.
Paychecks. Paychecks for teaching/research assistants and fellowships are issued every two-weeks on Fridays. The state system requires that all new hires register for direct deposit. Direct deposit often takes a few weeks to begin. Before direct deposit begins to function payroll will send checks to the Local Mailing Address that each student uses in myUFL. It is the student’s responsibility to update their address in the MySelfService section of myUFL. If you have any questions about your paycheck please consult with the Office Manager or Graduate Program Assistant.
UF ID Cards. UF requires all students, faculty and staff, when on campus, to carry upon their person an identification card. These cards are purchased from UF ID Card Services in the UF Bookstore at the Reitz Union. These cards are used for entry to libraries, sporting events, Lake Wauberg, ticket purchases, meal plans, etc. Teaching Assistants can have that title on their card (as opposed to ‘Student’), which will give them more privileges in the library.
Resources for History Grad Students
Computing Resources. The Department of History will provide a network account and access to a computer lab. Each student will be assigned a username and password to access the computer in the lab. The lab is equipped with a computer, and a laser printer. Students are responsible for supplying their own paper.
Fax. The Department will provide fax service (both incoming and outgoing) for teaching or research related purposes. Prior approval is required. The fax number is (352) 392-6927. The machine is in the main office.
GAU. All students on graduate assistantship may become members of Graduate Assistants United, United Faculty of Florida Union. You will learn more about this student union during orientation.
Graduate Student Lounge. The graduate students' lounge (011 Keene-Flint) is available for your use. We only ask that you assist in keeping it neat and that you keep noise in this area to a reasonable level, since there are faculty offices and teaching rooms nearby.
History Graduate Society. This is the History graduate students’ campus organization; it has both professional and social functions and will be introduced to incoming students in the orientation program. The officers of HGS are:
Diana Reigelsperger, President
Rob Taber, Vice President
Erin Conlin, Secretary
Allison Fredette, Treasurer
Vacant, New Student Representative
Keys. Graduate students have the option of being issued a key to the Computer lab and a key to the building. Each key has an $8.00 (cash) deposit that will be refunded when the student returns the key(s) upon their departure from the university. Please see the Office Manager for your keys.
Office Space. Office space will be provided to Teaching Assistants and Associates only. Because of limited space, three or more people may have to share a desk. Please see the Undergraduate Program Assistant for office assignments.
There are 84 individual graduate study carrels available in Library West. These are distributed by lottery in the first week of classes each fall. See the library’s web page for information.
Office Supplies/Postage. Graduate students do not have an office supplies or postage allotment. Research and coursework costs are born by the student.
Travel Assistance. When financial resources are available, the Department accepts applications for travel assistance to national and international conferences, and for travel assistance to conduct research at archives. Students are encouraged to apply to both the Department and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, as well as the Graduate School and Graduate Council for travel funds. These programs are ‘matching’ grants, where the total cost is born by several sources. The History Graduate Society also has limited funds to assist in travel. Announcements regarding guidelines and deadlines will be distributed by email.
See the travel procedures page for some further thoughts on travel funds.
