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Copyright 2004, University of Northern Colorado |
Undergraduate Student Handbook
Advising, Earth Science Club, Employment Opportunities, Facilities, Field Trips, Field Trip Policy, Money, Parting Shots, Problems?, Professional Organizations, Seminar, Student Employment, Writing Policy Return to Earth Sciences Home Page Welcome to the Earth Sciences Program! The faculty and staff of Earth Sciences will do their best to work with you to make you feel at home here and to help you obtain the best education possible. Return to Top When you declare you major in Earth Sciences you will be assigned an advisor by the office staff. It is essential that you work closely with you advisor in planning you program and scheduling classes. The advisor assignments are generally as follows:
If you, would like to change advisors, please feel free to stop by the office and let Vicki (our office manager) know. She'll be happy to take care of that for you. CLUBS The Earth Science Club is a chartered campus organization and receives money each year from SRC to support its activities. Nominal dues are collected from members. While Dr. Hoyt is the faculty advisor, the Earth Science Club is student operated and has elected officers. The types of activities commonly sponsored include: field trips, guest speakers, student attendance at professional meetings, fall and spring picnics, as well as a variety of just-for-fun social activities. Earth Sciences sponsors a chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The student-operated club sponsors guest speakers, conducts field trips and has social functions. Dr. Huffines is the faculty sponsor. Both Clubs are as active as the students in it want it to be. Check the bulletin boards outside the Earth Sciences Office (and evenually this website) for upcoming Club activities. You are encouraged to participate in one of these clubs. It's a great way to get acquainted with our other majors. You can anticipate that every class will have papers and/or other writing assignments. The standard format for most papers is described in the Writing Primer. Read and follow its instructions closely. In general, all written material should be word-processed. Grades for written material typically depend on both content and mechanics (grammar, spelling, syntax, etc.) Papers which do not meet appropriate standards may be returned to be re-written. Field trips are an integral part of many classes. Faculty typically try to schedule trips to be convenient for students, but there are numerous constraints related to weather, vehicles, conflicting trips, etc., which reduce flexibility in scheduling. Hence, students must arrange their schedules to make it possible to participate in required field trips. Please read our policies related to alcohol, drugs and behavior on trips below. DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES POLICY REGARDING PERSONAL CONDUCT DURING FIELD TRIPS Consumption of alcoholic beverages by participants on Earth Sciences field trips is absolutely forbidden during the hours when the activities of the field trips are in progress. Furthermore, drinking in University vehicles is against state law and thus is not permitted at any time. Drivers of field trips vehicles must NOT be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when they are driving. Possession of or use of illegal drugs are strictly forbidden at all times during field trips. During multi-day field trips, after camp is made, field trip participants must not disturb other campers and must not engage in activities which impair their own abilities to function effectively the next day. If, in the opinion of the faculty member responsible for the field trip, this policy is violated by any individual(s), the violator(s) will be returned to the UNC campus at their own expense (or the expense of their parents), and they will not receive credit for the field trip activity. Participants in field courses may be asked to sign a Participant Agreement Form which describes in more detail for each particular course the conditions of participation. Anyone not signing this form will not be permitted to participate in the field course. Classrooms & Laboratories: Earth Sciences attempts to insure that classrooms and laboratories are kept open on evenings and weekends so that students can work in them at their convenience. Some labs are routinely kept locked. Ask for access to these rooms if needed for your projects. Please do your part to keep our facilities neat and clean. Equipment: You must be checked out by a FACULTY MEMBER (not another student) before using lab equipment (thin section machine, rack saws, microscopes, telescopes, etc.) It is your very important responsibility to use equipment properly and to take care of it, so that it will be in good condition for students who follow you. Computers: Computers are available for student use in Ross 3060, 3257 and elsewhere. Check with your instructors or advisor as to their current location. Scanners, printers, large-format plotter and other peripherals are also available. In addition there are a number of computer laboratories in Ross Hall and around campus which you may use. Money is available to hire students for clerical assistants, lab assistants, drivers for field trips, and weather observers. If it is possible, we try to hire our own majors for these jobs. If you would like to work for Earth Sciences, check with our office staff for information and an application. In general, preference is given to students on work-study, but students without work-study also are hired. Job opportunities (summer or otherwise) are routinely posted on our bulletin board in the Earth Science hallway by the main office (Ross 3235). On-line postings will be available soon. FINANCIAL AID for Earth Sciences Majors In addition to the financial support for which you may have applied through the Financial Aid Office, there are several sources of money available to Earth Science students which are not widely publicized. Grant and scholarship information (when available) is posted on the bulletin board outside the Earth Sciences Office (Ross 3235). David Hunter Fund. Proceeds from this fund to defray the expenses of student participation in professional meetings, field trips, research projects, summer geology field trips, or any other reasonable activity. Apply for funds with a letter to Dr. William Hoyt describing what the funds will be used for. Application may be made at any time. Trowbridge Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to a major whose career goals include teaching earth sciences. Notices will be posted in Ross Hall each spring announcing competition for the award. Philip R. Bachenberg Scholarship. This scholarship of about $200 is awarded every spring to a student in Physics, Chemistry or Earth Sciences. Notices are posted in Ross Hall each spring announcing the competition for the award. Selberg Scholarship. Three $1000 awards are typically given each year to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in Biological Science Teaching, Chemistry Teaching, Earth Sciences Teaching, and/or Physics Teaching. Notices are posted each spring in Ross Hall announcing the competition. Lambda Sigma Tau. Scholarships are provided to support undergraduate research projects. Contact Dr. Hyslop in the Chemistry Department for more information. McCracken Fund. Scholarships are awarded annually to individuals whose interests include science teaching at the elementary and middle school level. Notice are posted in Ross Hall when applications are to be accepted. Financial Aid Information will evenually be available on line. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Earth Science students are encouraged to participate in local, regional, and national professional organizations. Most groups provide greatly reduced rates for students. Some that we suggest you consider include: Geological Society of America Every semester a series of talks by faculty, students, and visiting scholars are scheduled for our Earth Science Seminar class (ESCI 599). Please make it a point to attend these presentations (usually scheduled for Friday.) The seminar schedule is posted on the bulletin board outside the Earth Sciences office (Ross 3235). If for any reason you are having problems, whether in a class or otherwise, see the instructor and/or your advisor immediately. Problems are generally much easier to deal with when they are small and fresh, so don't delay. If you feel you need to talk with Dr. Hoyt (Program Director) or Dr. Huffines (Program Manager) about anything, their door is usually open, so stop by to chat or to make an appointment for later. What you receive from your educational experience at UNC will be directly proportional to what you put into it; so decide now to work hard and get the most you possibly can. It is your money that's paying for it, and you should resolve to get your money's worth. We encourage our students to be directly involved in Earth Sciences program activities. Participate in Club activities, and don't be a stranger to your advisor. Your education will be of much greater value if you get to know the faculty and your fellow students.
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