Getting Oriented
Getting used to a new environment may seem a bit daunting at first. To help out, the Department holds an orientation meeting at the beginning of the fall semester. All new graduate students are required to attend. If you must miss this meeting, please notify the Department Head before the meeting. During the meeting, faculty members will discuss their research programs and responsibilities of teaching assistants; and new students will tour the Department and the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS).
Below is some essential information about the operation of the Geology Department.
- The Staff of the Geology Department
- Advising
- Whom to ask for specific items
- Additional information (library, Wanless Room, mail, etc.)
- Security
Whom to ask and where to find it
For academic issues:
- Your advisor, or other members of your thesis committee.
- Members of the Graduate Studies Committee.
- The Department Head and the Associate Head.
Some Relevant Departmental Staff:
Marilyn Whalen(Office Administrator, 253 NHB): In charge of many tasks of importance to graduate students. Helps with assistantships, admissions, course registrations, rules and regulations, and scheduling of oral exams. Also takes care of thesis formatting and colloquium arrangements.
Ann Long (Teaching Laboratory Specialist, 246 NHB): Organizing TA's and overseeing the operation of introductory geology laboratories.
Steve Hurst (Research programmer, 419 NHB): Providing computer support for the Department, including e-mail service, Web pages, computer security, classroom technology and course software. Also teaches some geoscience courses and develops computer-aided teaching materials.
Ed Lane (SESE Electronics and Building expert, 117 NHB): Providing support about our building, computer networking, electronics, equipment for field trips and university shop services.
Shelley Campbell (SESE Staff Clerk, 449 NHB): Accounting tasks, and field trip organization.
Julie Dyar (SESE and Geology Office Support, 245 NHB): Keeping track of keys, colloquium arrangements, audio-visual equipment, shipping, fax, copying, ordering/keeping office supplies, and other tasks.
| When You Need Help With: | You Should See: |
|---|---|
Forms, procedures, petitions, thesis procedures and formatting |
Marilyn Whalen |
Keys, copying, shipping, video, building repairs, thermostats, lights, copier repairs, air conditioning, ordering office supplies |
Julie Dyar |
Teaching assistantships |
Chair of Admissions Committee |
Degree requirements and policies |
Chair of Grad Studies Committee |
Computers, e-mail, networking, classroom technology, etc. |
Steve Hurst |
Electronics repairs |
Ed Lane |
Telephone service, ordering lab supplies and equipment, field trip arrangements |
Shelley Campbell/ Jennifer Drennan |
Additional Information for Geology Grad Students
Library: We have one of the better geology libraries in the nation, located in Room 223. Sheila McGowan and Diana Walter can help you locate items. You should learn to use GEOREF, ILLINET, and other on-line searching systems as soon as possible. Ask the library staff for help.
Departmental Colloquium: Regularly held in Friday afternoons when the campus is in session. Coffee, tea, and cookies are served in the Wanless Room starting at 3:30 and the lecture begins at 4:00. Graduate students are required to attend colloquia, and participate in the "Current Research in Geoscience" course.
» Click here for current colloquium schedule
Current Research in Geoscience: Under the rubric "Geology 591", this seminar involves 1) discussion of each week's colloquium talk and papers by the speaker, and 2) student presentations of their research, honing presentation skills. ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS MUST REGISTER FOR AND ATTEND THIS SEMINAR.
Mail: U.S. Mail and Campus mail are sorted by Departmental staff and distributed to your mail box in the Wanless Room. Printed announcements will also be put in your box, so please check your box often. To decrease the work load on the staff, please avoid having personal mail sent to the Department. For campus mail (no stamp required), please use brown envelopes and place campus mail in the box in Room 245 or in the box by the west exit of NHB.
The complete address for the Department is:
(your name)
Department of Geology
University of Illinois
245 NHB, MC-102
1301 W. Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
The Wanless Room: Room 247 has student mailboxes, tables for gathering, a small kitchen with a fridge, microwave, coffee and other drinks, bulletin boards, and more. It is the social center of the Department and is a great place for lunch or a break- there's almost always a conversation going on. The room is named after Prof. Harold Wanless, a distinguished member of the faculty who taught sedimentary geology in the 50s and 60s.
Grad Computer Lab: Room 103 has Macintosh, and Window computers, printers, slide and flatbed scanners, and other computer peripherals. See Steve Hurst to obtain access to this facility. A color laser printer is available (for a nominal fee) in Rm 245.
Main office: Room 245, home of Julie Dyar. Contains faculty and staff mail boxes, FAX machine (244-1808), supplies, and audio visual equipment. A phone for student long-distance calls is also available in 245 NHB. You must sign the billing sheet.
Copier: The copy machine is in room 247. Each student is given an access code (see Julie Dyar.).
Student Services
Counseling: The university Counseling Center provides help for crises and long-term stress issues. It also organizes workshops and support groups.
Disabled students: The university also has various support services for students with disabilities.
Food: Soda and candy machines are available in the basement of NHB, at the northern end. Coffee is available in the Wanless Room, or in the courtyard of the Illini Union. Fast food restaurants can be found in the basement of the Illini Union next door, and more vending machines are located off the east hall of the Union. Other nearby, on-campus eating places include the Red Herring in the basement of Channing Murray, and the Thai Eatery in the University YMCA. There are also many off-campus restaurants in Campustown, or along Goodwin.
A Few Words About Security
- We have enormous amounts of traffic through NHB because of large lecture halls.
- The building is open late, i.e., whenever the library is open.
- There have been thefts of computer equipment and other items in the building.
- None of the rooms is secure unless you make it so by locking up after you, every time.