Biological Science - Graduate Studies

FASFA for Dean’s Scholarship eligibility

New PhD students only; domestic students must fill out a FASFA to determine eligibility

Obtain FSU ID & FSU Email

Access to many of the functions you need to register, pay fees, check your schedule, print unofficial transcripts, etc. require that you set-up a secure profile before you can continue. Follow this link to activate your FSU ID and FSU E-mail account: https://dsst.fsu.edu/nsfp/resources/activate-your-fsuid. NOTE: you can activate your accounts prior to arriving at FSU. Please e-mail gradinfo@bio.fsu.edu with your FSU ID.

Immunizations

You are required to show proof of vaccination against MMR, Meningococcal meningitis and Hepatitis B. See the student health link for more details.

Health Compliance

You are required to show proof of health insurance, or purchase the FSU Student Health Insurance plan. The Graduate School provides subsidy for insurance. See Subsidy Benefit page for more information.

New Employee Onboarding

Email Debbie Jensen djensen@bio.fsu.edu to begin the hiring process:

• Legal Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• E-Mail Address

You will receive an e-mail from FSUonboarding@fsu.edu to complete your hiring paperwork. This must be completed prior to your first day of work.

Make sure you have adequate funds to cover your initial costs in Tallahassee, because there could be a 4-6 week delay in receiving your first paycheck.

Background Check Info

You qualify for a Level II Background Check and will receive an e-mail from HR-ERS@admin.fsu.edu with instructions. If you currently reside in the US you can have your fingerprints taken in your home State. The results must be received prior to your first day of work.

International Arrival in Tallahassee

International students have some early orientation and English test sessions.

Arrival in Tallahassee

We encourage you to arrive in Tallahassee no later than the second week of August. There will be little opportunity to obtain an apartment, turn on utilities, set up a bank account, etc. during the following week while you are attending the teaching workshop.

International Student Check-In & Orientation

International students are required to attend the International Students’ Orientation.

International Student SPEAK test

All Bio grad students who are non-native speakers of English are required to take the SPEAK test for evaluating their English speaking ability.

Obtain FL Residency

Deadline: August 22, 2018

(Failure to do so may jeopardize your petition for future residency)

All non-Florida, U.S. citizens are required to obtain residency by the beginning of their 2nd year. Students must be completely independent from their parents (i.e., not claimed on tax returns, etc) for one year prior to obtaining Florida residency status. Out-of-state tuition waivers will only be given for the first year.

Be sure to retain copies of all documents and receipts for payment of documents: you will need them in one year to prove your residency.

Tips for establishing legal residency in Florida

Initial Residency Classification

This is absolutely essential for out-of-state students!

File Declaration of Domicle

This is absolutely essential for out-of-state students!

Social Security Card

International Students: If you do not have a social security card, you will need to obtain one. After you have registered, take your admission letter from Biology to the International Student Center and pick up their letter to take to the Social Security Office, along with your immigration paperwork. The Social Security Office is located at 2002 Old St. Augustine Road. Directions: Travel east on Tennessee Street, take a right on Monroe Street, left on Apalachee Parkway, take a right on Blairstone Road and then a left on Old St. Augustine Road. The office building is located on the left hand side of Old St. Augustine Road.

FSU Student ID Card

Important for security reasons, access to buildings after hours, library and fitness center, etc.

Fingerprinting for Background Check

You will receive instructions from ERS@admin.fsu.edu . If you reside in the US, you may be able to get fingerprinted in your home state. Otherwise, get fingerprinted at the Human Resources A6200 University Center, as part of your background check.

Bring a photo ID with you.

Available: Mon - Fri 8:00am - 4:45pm

Office Space

Your major professor will handle office space requests.

Paperwork & Registration Session

Navigating the FSU Student Central system is not very clear! We will hold a session in the King Computer Lab to assist you in registering for classes and completing any other tasks. We ask that all incoming PhD and thesis MS grad students attend, so that we can make sure that no one is falling through the cracks for class registration and HR paperwork.

Class Registration

ASAP after FYAC meeting, with info received during orientation with FYAC. Log in to myFSU then click on Student Center icon (SC). See myFSU How-To for help on registration

Registration is on-line. Students who are U.S. citizens and who have submitted all their documents, including the health form, will be able to register during regular registration, August 16-20.

International students are required to attend the International Students’ Orientation--go to Globe Orientation site for details.

Late registration begins August 23 and there is a $100 late registration fee. Your faculty advisor will be able to assist you with your course selection. If you encounter any problems with registering, please contact Jessica Webber.

Bio Paperwork

You cannot get paid until you complete your HR paperwork. You must complete process in person with Debbie Jensen in King 2065L

Make sure you have adequate funds to cover your initial costs in Tallahassee, because there could be a 4-6 week delay in receiving your first paycheck.

All Students

U.S. Students: As soon as possible after you arrive, please contact Debbie Jensen, (850) 645-8295, to set up an appointment to do your paperwork. You must bring your original social security card and your driver’s license/passport. If you have lost your card, you will need to apply for a duplicate. I will notarize the Loyalty Oath and complete the I-9 while you are here. If you have lost your card, you will need to apply for a duplicate.

International Students: You must check in at the Center for Global Engagement upon arrival on campus. As soon as possible after you arrive, please contact Debbie Jensen, (850) 645-8295, to set up an appointment to do your paperwork. You will need to bring your social security card, I-20 paper work, VISA, Passport, and I-94 print out. If you do not have a social security card, you will need to obtain one.
After you have registered, take your admission letter from Biology to the International Student Center and pick up their letter to take to the Social Security Office, along with your immigration paperwork.

The Social Security Office is located at 2002 Old St. Augustine Road. Directions: Travel east on Tennessee Street, take a right on Monroe Street, left on Apalachee Parkway, take a right on Blairstone Road and then a left on Old St. Augustine Road. The office building is located on the left hand side of Old St. Augustine Road.

Once you receive your card, contact Debbie Jensen, (850) 645-8295 to set up an appointment to do your paperwork. She will need your immigration paperwork and two forms of identification (passport/visa, school ID, etc).

Students on Fellowships, Research Assistantships and Training Grant Stipends:

In addition to checking in with Debbie Jensen, please contact individual PI or program providing the RA.

Keys/Card Access

Must complete in person with Debbie Jensen, ASAP after obtaining FSU ID Card & office space from Major Professor

Once you and your advisor have determined what access and which keys you will need, the advisor will contact Debbie Jensen djensen@bio.fsu.edu with your name and to which areas you will need keys/card access.

To get access to entrances or areas that require the use of a swipe card, you will need to provide Debbie the last 8 digits of your ID number as indicated on your FSU ID card.

The turnaround time to pick up keys is 24 hours and a picture I.D. is required to pick you keys up from the Key Bank, 150 MMA (Mendenhall Maintenance, Building A) which is located off Wildwood Drive.

Departmental Mailbox

Depending on your lab location, you will be assigned a physical mailbox in the King, Unit I, or BRF mailrooms.

@bio.fsu.edu Email

Jessica Webber will email your new Bio email address and temporary password.

The University provides e-mail accounts which are used by instructors and the general university population. Your MyFSU account will always be your primary contact for university business. In addition to the university accounts, the Biology department will issue a separate BIO email account. Both accounts can be linked so you only have to check one e-mail.

If you are a Neuroscience student, please contact Jason Thigpen, 248 BRF; (850) 644-4876.

Please e-mail Jessica Webber gradinfo@bio.fsu.edu once your account as been established.

Bio Teaching Workshop

The teaching workshop will be held room 1024 King Building. Attendance is required for all entering graduate students regardless of source of financial support (teaching assistantship, research assistantship, fellowship, or private funding). Please arrive each day on time so as not to be disruptive to the speakers and the class.

CMB Faculty Interviews/Rotation Form

CMB Students only. Form given by your FYAC via email. Must have 3 interviews (with signatures) completed AND first rotation confirmed (with signature) by the Friday before classes start.

Welcome Poster Session

Labs will be represented with posters, and new students will be introduced to the department. Cake and goodies will be provided!

Online Research Ethics Course

Course registration requires your “FSU SN” (it has 2 letters and 7 digits, e.g. “AB1234567”).

All students supported by NIH, NSF, or USDA funds (which will be almost all Biology students) must complete the online ethics training course. See this instructions sheet for registering and completing the course. The FSU Office of Research Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) page has more information about the requirement. When completed, please send a copy of your “certificate of participation to the Bio Graduate Office.

We also strongly encourage you to register for the 2 credit course offered in the Fall, “PSB 5077: Responsible Conduct of Research” , taught by faculty, which covers not only research ethics but also survival skills for a scientific career.

Tuition Waiver

log in -> student financials -> Disbursement Permissions -> Waiver Form -> print, sign and turn in to Rita.
Before paying your tuition, you will need to come by the Graduate Office (1063B King Life Science Building) to pick up your tuition waiver.

Parking Permit (if applicable)

Must be registered for classes before ordering permit. (Parking enforcement begins week 2 of the semester)

Fee Payment

Fees are due no later than the second Friday of classes. After that date there will be a $100 late payment fee.
Further information on fee payment can be found at the Student Business website.

Animal or Human Subjects Protocol

If you are working on a project which involves vertebrate animals or human subjects (which includes human tissue samples), it is IMPERATIVE that you be added to your advisor’s IACUC or IRB protocol before you conduct any experiments. This includes any experiments you might do in another lab, as part of a rotation or collaboration. Note that just being listed on one protocol may not be sufficient: you must be listed on a protocol which describes the experiments you are conducting, so you may need to be on multiple protocols, or be added to a different lab’s protocol in the future.
Aside from the ethical and legal requirements, this is critical because the university Graduate School will review your dissertation to make sure that all experiment were covered by a protocol WHICH LISTED YOU as a participant. If there is no protocol, or even if there is a relevant protocol but you are not listed on it, the Graduate School may REJECT your dissertation.