Did You Know?

Electronic Financial Aid Notices (eFAN) for 2008-09

Graduate students are advised to visit the UC Davis Financial Aid Web site during June, July, August and September to view any departmental or outside awards they may have been awarded, and to view and satisfy any open requirements posted by the Financial Aid Office. Your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) may have been selected for the verification process. If selected, the requirements will be to submit a Verification Worksheet and a complete copy of your 2007 Federal Income Tax return and W-2s. Failure to submit all required forms or documentation will result in not being offered financial aid in the fall.

Your eligibility for "need-based" financial aid loans will be determined in late September to allow time for all departmental and outside awards to be posted to your eFAN first. The Financial Aid Office will notify you at the beginning of fall quarter 2008 of when you will be able to view and accept your financial aid loans, download and print related forms, and accept or decline your Direct Loans. For more information, visit http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu, e-mail gradfinaid@ucdavis.edu, or call (530) 752-9246.

The Graduate Financial Aid Office reception window will be closed from July 1 through August 29, 2008. If you have questions or need to contact our office, please call (530) 752-9246 or e-mail gradfinaid@ucdavis.edu during normal office hours (8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday. We check phone messages and e-mails several times a day and will respond within 24-48 hours during our regular office hours.

Benefit Update for Fall 2008

Vision Plan

VSP will provide a vision plan for SHIP members. The plan pays for a yearly eye exam and lenses with copay of $25, and frames every two years with $130 allowance. Contact lenses can be chosen in lieu of lenses and frames every year with the $130 allowance. There is also a Lasik discount of 15%.
Delta Dental
The Delta Dental annual maximum will increase to $750 per year.
Anthem Blue Cross
The pharmacy annual maximum benefit will increase to $5,000 per year. The annual deductible will increase to $200.

Are You Available This Summer?

USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center will conduct research studies this summer and seeks participants for its nutrition research studies. One goal of our research is to create and test food-based strategies, or “nutrition interventions” to improve human health. Participants receive financial compensation for their participation. Most study visits are held on the UC Davis campus. Participants can live in Yolo, Sacramento, or surrounding counties. To learn about research studies, call the study phone number (530) 752-5177 or visit our Web site (http://www.ars.usda.gov/pwa/davis/whnrc).

SHIP Premium Costs for 2008-09

The cost of SHIP will be charged to your student account along with your registration fees each term. Three quarterly payments (for law students, two semester payments) provide year-round coverage. Costs for SHIP for the 2008-09 policy year for graduate students are: $618/quarter = $1,854/year. More information is available at http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/insurance/ship0708/cost-dates.html.

Week of Welcome Service Activities (WoWSA!)

The Graduate Student Community Service Committee (GSCS) is bringing together UC Davis graduate students – new and continuing – for our second annual Week of Welcome Service Activity (WoWSA!). Teams of 5-10 students will volunteer at various sites in and around Davis throughout the week and enjoy a free lunch together on Saturday. Here's your chance to give back to the community, meet people outside your department, and get some free food - all at the same time!

Partner organizations for the service projects will include the UC Davis Arboretum, Davis Community Meals, the Sacramento Food Bank, and more. For more information, check out the WoWSA web site at http://gscsc.ucdavis.edu/WoW2008.php or contact the event directors at wowsa-directors@ucdavis.edu.

This event is sponsored by the Graduate Student Community Service Committee: committed to encouraging graduate students to be involved in their local community. We are looking for graduate student members who are enthusiastic about community service and/or want committee experience. For more information about the committee, to join, or to find out more about graduate student community service opportunities, visit the GSCS Web Site (http://gscsc.ucdavis.edu) or e-mail the GSCSC chair (gscsc-chair@ucdavis.edu).

Sign Up to be on the GSA List Server

Have you ever missed a Graduate Student Association event because you didn't know it was happening? GSA has created a list server where GSA can directly inform you of graduate issues and events – including Woodstock's Free Pizza Night and alternate venues for Coffee/Bagel/Donut Day.  

To sign up, just send an e-mail to listproc@ucdavis.edu and write in the message box "sub gsals your name ".  Remove the quotation marks and replace "your name" with your real name.
Example: sub gsals John Smith.  
Once signed up, you will start receiving e-mails from the GSA list server (gsals@ucdavis.edu). If you have any trouble signing up, you can find answers at the IET Web site (http://email.ucdavis.edu/eml/listprocFAQ.php#sub-ucd).

For more information please visit the GSA Web site (http://gsa.ucdavis.edu) or contact the GSA Campus Organizing Director Matthew Thompson (gsacod@ucdavis.edu).

Internship and Career Center

Whether you aspire to an academic career or a career beyond the Ivory Tower, the Internship and Career Center has a variety of resources to help you on your path. We offer one-on-one career advising, specialty workshops, and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics, including: how to craft a C.V. and cover letter, transferring your skills outside of academia, and career options in various fields. For more information, visit https://iccweb.ucdavis.edu or contact Kathi Shull (kjshull@ucdavis.edu) or Teresa Dillinger (tldillinger@ucdavis.edu) to schedule an appointment.

SHIP Waiver Applications

SHIP waiver applications for the 2008-09 academic year became available online in May at http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu. Final deadlines for waiver applications are September 18, 2008 for quarter students. Waiver applications must be filed each academic year. If you have already waived off SHIP for 2007-08, and you want to maintain your waived status for 2008-09, you must file a new waiver application by the fall term deadline.

Participate in Research Studies

USDA, ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center seeks volunteers for its research studies. One goal of our research is to create and test food-based strategies, or “nutrition interventions” to improve human health. Volunteers receive financial compensation for their participation. Most study visits are held on the UC Davis campus. Volunteers can live in Yolo, Sacramento, or surrounding counties. To learn about new studies, call (530) 752-5177 or visit their Web site at http://www.ars.usda.gov/pwa/davis/whnrc.

Summer SHIP Coverage

If you are enrolled in SHIP for spring quarter/semester as a registered student, your coverage continues through the summer. This also applies to students who graduate at the end of spring term. More information is available at http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/insurance/ship0708/cost-dates.html.

Professional Development Series

The Professional Development Series (PDS) provides a variety of training opportunities on topics of professional development interest to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. PDS is offered by the Office of Graduate Studies and co-sponsored by other UC Davis units. For a listing of events please go online to http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/pds or contact Teresa Dillinger (tldillinger@ucdavis.edu).

Blue Cross of California Name Change

As of April 1, 2008 Blue Cross of California started doing business as Anthem Blue Cross. This means Blue Cross of California products and services will be offered under the Anthem Blue Cross brand. Members will now log into http://www.anthem.com/ca instead of http://www.bluecrossca.com to access the secure member web tools. Members who have already set up a username and password with Blue Cross will continue to access information at Anthem by using the same username and password, providing the existing information meets the Web site security standards. If not, the member will be prompted to make necessary updates upon login. If you need assistance, please call the number on the back of your ID card (1-800-888-2108).

Obtaining Medical Care Away from Davis

If you are outside of the Davis area during the summer and are in need of non-emergency medical services, please remember that you must obtain a referral from Cowell Student Health Center (CSHC) BEFORE receiving off-campus medical services. SHIP claims will not be considered for payment without prior referral from CSHC. To verify your SHIP eligibility and obtain a referral, call a SHIP coordinator at CSHC (530) 752-6055. Please leave a detailed message so the SHIP coordinator may return your call and provide you with a referral as soon as possible. For medical emergencies, go to an urgent care or emergency facility for treatment. Referral by CSHC is not required for emergency treatment.

Teaching Resources

Ever wish you could learn more about teaching but find that you can’t seem to get away from your computer? The “Tomorrow’s Professor” listserv, hosted by Stanford University, provides a handy solution – it will send two interesting postings about teaching and higher education to your e-mail inbox each week for free. To look at some previous postings, check out their Web site at http://ctl.stanford.edu/Tomprof/postings.html#teaching and its accompanying blog at http://amps-tools.mit.edu/tomprofblog/archives/tomorrows_teaching_and_learning, or sign up at http://ctl.stanford.edu/Tomprof/subscribe.html. If you have any questions, please contact Mikaela Huntzinger (pmhuntzinger@ucdavis.edu) or at (530) 752-9088.

Stressed Out?...

Need something to calm and relax you? Feel like you’re not performing at your best? The Stress & Wellness Clinic is here for you. The Stress & Wellness Clinic is a Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) sponsored program designed to address student needs specific to stress and anxiety, while improving an overall sense of well-being. The clinic offers a number of workshops, groups, and one-on-one counseling sessions aimed to provide you with strategies and information proven to help decrease symptoms of stress. To find out more about our Stress & Wellness Clinic, call CAPS at (530) 752-0871 and ask to schedule an appointment with one of the Stress & Wellness specialists.

Changing Your Registration Status

Are you planning to change your registration status, such as going on PELP or Filing Fee, graduating or withdrawing from UCD? Plan ahead by becoming informed about its impact on your SHIP eligibility, enrollment, and fees. Go to http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/insurance/ship0708/eligibility.html for detailed information.

Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant SHIP Fees

If you are a TA or a RA and have a question about whether or not your SHIP fee will be paid on your behalf, contact your department office. Remission of SHIP fees is determined and managed through your individual graduate departments.

Moving?

Please remember to update your “Current Mailing” address on SISWEB or at the Office of Registrar. If you don’t keep your current mailing address on file, you may not receive important information from Anthem Blue Cross, Delta Dental, Vision Service Plan (VSP), and Student Health Services (SHS).

Jobs!

Don’t forget to check out postdoc and graduate student employment postings at http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/employment.