General Information

Student ID “U Cards” can be obtained at G22 Coffman Memorial Union from 8:00am-4:30pm weekdays or at the University Rec Center from 11:00am-1:00pm weekdays and on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Additional information can be found at: ucard.umn.edu

Tuition benefits are available to graduate assistants who hold appointments of at least 12.5% for the entire semester. This benefit is capped at a maximum of 14 credits per semester during the academic year and 14 credits for the combined May session/summer term. An assistantship will allow the appointee a tuition benefit that is double the percentage worked. For example, a 25% appointment provides a 50% tuition benefit and a 50% appointment provides a 100% tuition benefit up to the capped amount. If a graduate assistant's appointment ends for any reason (other than graduation) before it is completed, you may be billed for some or all of the semesters’ tuition.

Although tuition benefits are available to assistants with 12.5% appointments, only those who work a minimum of 25% appointments are eligible for resident rates. The tuition benefit offered to assistants with 12.5% appointments is 25% of in-state tuition; however, the appointee would be required to pay the balance of the non-resident tuition rate if they are not a resident of MN or a state with a reciprocity agreement. A student may combine appointments (12.5% RA, 12.5% TA) to achieve a 25% appointment.

Department fellowship recipients receive tuition waivers for up to 14 credits per semester, as do Graduate School fellowship recipients. The Departments Payroll Specialist will process the waiver.

It is very important that students check their fee statements carefully. If the tuition benefit or waiver does not appear on the fee statement, students should see the Graduate Program Coordinator.

The tuition benefits and waivers associated with assistantships and fellowships do not pay for miscellaneous fees such as the student services fee or for any books required for courses. Fees may be paid at Onestop Student Services or online.

University Policy requires that all students registering for 6 or more credits to have health plan coverage. Students may satisfy University Policy in one of three ways:

Graduate Assistant Health Plan

The Graduate Assistant Medical Plan is available to departmental fellowship recipients and graduate assistants who hold appointments of 25% or more a semester. The University subsidizes the cost of health coverage and pays a portion of the health insurance premium equal to twice the appointment percentage (50% for a 25% appointment, 100% for a 50% appointment). To receive this coverage fellowship recipients and graduate assistants must apply for it during the first semester of their assistantship and enroll by the enrollment deadline. For most students, this deadline is within two weeks of your starting date. Consult the Office of Student health Benefits (410 Church Street SE, N323, 612-624-0627) for further information.

Private policy

Students carrying their own insurance policy will not be required to purchase the University- sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan. To ensure that you will not be billed for the University – sponsored plan, provide the following when you register for classes online: The name of the company providing your health plan; the company phone number; and your health plan member ID. You must register this information each semester when you register.

If you are registering for 6 or more credits and FAIL to provide the required information when registering, you will automatically be charged for the Student Health Insurance plan. If you think that you have been billed incorrectly, contact a One Stop counselor 624-1111.

University-Sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan

Full-time students who are not covered through a private policy or the Graduate Assistant Health Plan must enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan. Questions regarding this program should be directed to the Student Insurance Office (Boynton Health Service, 624- 0627)

The University of Minnesota mandates that all international students and their dependents must be enrolled in the University sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) unless they are covered by a United States-based employer-sponsored health plan or the Graduate Assistant Medical Plan provided by the University of Minnesota.

Note: you do not need to enroll during the summer to receive continued insurance coverage, provided you have held at least a 50% RA appointment during fall and spring semesters. If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Assistant Insurance Office at 624-0627.

Information regarding sick leave, vacation, parental leave, workers compensation/unemployment compensation, and travel insurance is available from the Graduate Assistant Employment Office

Unofficial Transcripts

You may view your unofficial transcript online or request a copy in person. One Stop does not send unofficial transcripts by mail. You may not request a transcript by phone.

Official Transcripts

The online request is the most convenient way to order an official transcript. Transcripts requested online are available in either printed or electronic (a secure, certified PDF) format.

Payment for fees must be paid with a credit or debit card. According to University policy, official transcripts will not be issued for you if you have certain types of holds on your record. You can review your holds online. To find out what the fees are check here.

Parking and Transportation Services works with local public transit providers to provide the best possible service to meet the transportation needs of the University community. The University also provides FREE shuttle service between campuses! Visit Parking Services at

for information on parking, busing, the rail, bicycle, maps.

Student Parking Contracts “Lottery for 24-Hour Contract Parking”

These contracts are sold through a lottery system each semester. Sign-up for fall is typically in mid-July, sign-up for spring is on November 25 – check their website for updates. Locations

may vary each quarter, but include spaces on the East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul campuses. Information on this can be here.

Free Campus Shuttle

You can get wherever you need to go at the University on the campus shuttle system. For example, the St. Paul Campus is only a 15-minute ride using the Campus Connector. All campus shuttles are free and use a color-coded bus stop mapping system. Visit here for additional information, including maps and schedules.

Metropass

The Metro Transit provides most of the regular route bus service in the Twin Cities and has excellent bus service. The Twin Cities Campus Busing Guide is available from Parking and Transportation Services and Metro Transit. To learn more about the buses available to your area, call the Transit Information Center at 612-373-3333 or visit one of the campus kiosks at: Parking and Transportation Services. Additional information can also be found here.

U-Pass/unlimited bus rides

The U-Pass is the ultimate transit pass that provides unlimited rides 24 hours a day. It's valid on all regular metro-area bus routes, as well as express, local, limited-stop, or Downtown Zone routes. Metro Transit is the primary bus line running in the Twin Cities area, providing service to just about any destination you desire. U-Pass may not, however, be used on some special event services. To order the U-Pass go here.

Scholastic dishonesty is not tolerated in the Department.

According to the University Student Conduct Code, scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using old exams or other test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering, forging, or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis.

You may expect your teachers and advisors to define these terms and set clear scholastic honesty rules and expectations.

Familiarize yourself with the University of Minnesota Academic Misconduct Policy, found here.

You are expected to promote and safeguard the comfortable learning and professional environment of the Department, and to treat everyone with the respect and courtesy that you would like to receive from them.

Threatening or harassing conduct and language are not tolerated.

Report any such behavior to the head of the Department, the DGS, or faculty members, as you deem appropriate.

Any student behaving unprofessionally is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, in accordance with the University Student Conduct Code.

Familiarize yourself with this code.

The Department adheres to University of Minnesota Human Resources Policies and Procedures, including but not limited to benefits, compensation, medical leaves, and parental leaves.

Contact the administrator with any questions or concerns related to human resources policies and procedures.

Sexual harassment is a serious issue. As students we may be sexually harassed by an advisor or other faculty members. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell whether a faculty member’s behavior constitute harassment or not. If you feel uncomfortable with a faculty member’s behavior, say something either to a faculty member or to someone who can help you find answers and services.

Teaching assistants responsible for classroom or laboratory instruction are expected to maintain standards of professional ethics appropriate for any member of a university faculty.

What is Sexual Harassment? (Text from the Board of Regents Policy)

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic advancement in any University activity or program;

Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such individual in any University activity or program;

or Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment in any University activity or program.

Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence is any sexual behavior between two or more people to which one person does not or cannot consent. This includes all forms of sexual violence including sexual harassment.

Available Resources

The following programs and resources are available to individuals who have been sexually harassed or exploited in any way.

You can call any of these resources if you feel uncomfortable with someone’s behavior, even if you aren’t sure whether it qualifies as harassment, even if you aren’t sure that it wasn’t just your own misinterpretation, or even if you believe you did something to justify the other person’s behavior. These resources can help you understand what happened and help you find ways to respond to the situation.

If your advisor or another faculty member sexually harasses you or otherwise behaves inappropriately toward you, you can contact the Graduate Student Liaison Committee for confidential assistance in determining what your options for handling the situation may be. Even if you decide not to do anything at all, the Committee can help identify your options.

For your protection, we recommend using the free campus Escort Service. Call 624- WALK (624- 9255) and the dispatcher will send a uniformed escort to walk you to your destination.

Campus Escort Service 612-624-WALK

24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (612-624-9255)

Free walking and biking security escort service to and from campus locations and nearby adjacent neighborhoods.

Crisis Connection 612-379-6363

Urgent Mental Health Counseling at Boynton 612-625-8475

First Call for Help 651-291-0211

Law Clinics, 190 Mondale Hall 612-625-5515

Disability Services, McNamara Alumni Center, Suite 180 612-626-1333

Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action 612-624-9547

Located in 274 McNamara Alumni Center, this is the place to file an informal or formal complaint. You can also ask questions about your options and choices.

AURORA Center for Advocacy & Education, 407 Boynton

On-campus resource for victims of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and harassment.

24-Hour Crisis Line: 612-626-9111

Business Line: 612-626-2929

Minneapolis Suicide Hotline (24 hours) 612-873-2222

University Counseling and Consulting Services (340 Appleby Hall) 612-624-3323

University Police Non-Emergency: 612-624-2677

University Police Emergency: 911

University of Minnesota Medical Center Information: 612-273-3000

Graduate students should discuss any problems related to their academic program, research, or assistantship responsibilities with their adviser, the DGS, and any other faculty member(s) they deem appropriate.

Grievances should be resolved at the lowest level possible and a student should only seek resolution at a higher level when absolutely necessary.

For further information, students may consult the Student Conflict Resolution Center in 254 Appleby Hall or at 612-624-7272, sos@umn.edu