Graduate Student

Resource Guide

Welcome to the Graduate School at Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University is one of America’s most dynamic public universities, a center of academic excellence and an internationally recognized research institution that is changing the world. After less than 60 years of existence, it is ranked among the top 100 universities in the nation and the top 40 public universities. Your choice to attend Stony Brook University will prepare you well for your future career and professional endeavors. Your graduate educational journey begins here, and we want to make sure you are well equipped to immerse yourself in your academic and professional development to make the most out of your time spent at Stony Brook University. This resource guide will help you find the right support channels within the university, and also give you helpful contacts you may need along the way. If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact The Graduate School directly at (631) 632-GRAD or visit our offices in Suite 2401 of the Computer Science Building. Well Wishes, The Graduate School

Graduate Student Leadership

Graduate Student Organization (GSO)

The GSO is the graduate student government at the Stony Brook University. The GSO is committed to providing services to graduate students that help with professional and personal development and are geared to increase both the academic success and quality of life of all master and doctoral students at Stony Brook University. The GSO office is located in Room 227 in the Student Activities

Center (SAC). Visit sbgso.org for office hours and how to become involved.

Graduate Student Employee Union (GSEU)

The Graduate Student Employees Union represents all Teaching and Graduate Assistants enrolled in SUNY, the largest state university system in the nation. It is run by and for graduate students, and works to improve their living and working conditions. It tries to maintain and extend graduate student employee’s benefits, wages, and rights. More information at cwa1104gseu.com

Graduate Student Advocates Graduate Student Advocates (GSAs) can help resolve problems you may encounter during your graduate studies at Stony Brook. In many situations, you may simply need more information or assistance finding and contacting the appropriate people within the University. Email gradadvocate@stonybrook.edu to contact Doctoral or Master Student Advocate for any inquiries or concerns.

Table of Contents:

Getting Started…………………………………… 6

Health Services Student Health Services Center……………………. 7 Student Health Insurance Domestic Students…………………..…… 8 International Students…………...……….. 9

Visa & Immigration Services……………………. 11

Student Living Housing …………………………………………… 12 Parking…………………………..………………… 13 Campus Dining…………………………….……… 15 Campus Dining Map……………………… 16 Wolfie Wallet ……………………………………... 17 Nearby & Off Campus Dining…………………….. 18 IREP Opportunities …………………………….. 19 Opportunities & Awards………………………… 20 Additional Resources……………………………. 21 Quick Reference Directory…………..………….. 22

Getting Started SOLAR is Stony Brook University's primary administrative system used by students to register for classes, print schedules, view and pay bills, view transcripts, update personal information, report student employment hours, and more. Log in using your SB ID number (sent to you previously) and the initial SOLAR password is your date of birth in mmddyy format (ie: January 5, 1973 would be typed as 010573).

SB ALERT Sign up for SB Alert to be in the loop about weather and campus emergencies. Sign up on SOLAR under SB Alert. NET ID The NetID and SOLAR ID are two different identifiers! Information regarding your NetID and NetID password is obtained by logging into SOLAR and clicking the NetID Maintenance link. This is where you find out what your NetID is and how to change your NetID password. Use your NetID to access Blackboard, Library Databases, Email, etc. ID CARD This multipurpose card serves as a campus ID and library card. Details on how to get the card are available at stonybrook.edu/campuscard. You will need to bring one form of government-issued photo ID. Tip: Use your ID for discounts at major retailers! EMAIL Go to stonybrook.edu/mycloud and use your NetID ACADEMIC CALENDARS Keep up to date on important deadlines using the Academic Calendar available at stonybrook.edu/commcms/registrar/calendars/academic_calendars PARKING Get a parking pass here at asa.stonybrook.edu/parking/permits Parking maps are available at stonybrook.edu/parking/parkingmap SB Bus and Public Transportation information can be found at stonybrook.edu/transportation/campusbus/bus_map

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Student Health Services Center

The Student Health center is located in Stadium Road, opposite to the Student Union Building. You can make an appointment by calling (631) 632-6740

Services Provided are o Dietician/Nutrition Services o Gynecologist Clinic o Laboratory o Medical Clinics o CAPS / Social Work Services

Services provided are confidential counseling, support, and advocacy

CAPS is located at Student Health Services - Second Floor. For questions and appointments: (631) 632-6720

o Immunization Upon arriving on campus, you will need to

submit your Immunization History Form and Health Form to this office to remove the related hold on your student account

Flu shot available during fall semester o Pharmacy - Prescriptions are filled for registered

students who have paid the health fee and the pharmacy will only fill prescriptions written by student health service providers

o Self-Care There is a guide to evaluate your symptoms

without seeing a physician o You could also pick up limited number of non-

prescription items that may be useful for your particular problem free or at substantial saving price

o Travel Health o Travel Consultations for Stony Brook University

students visiting other countries e.g. required vaccines

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Student Health Insurance

Domestic Students

Domestic students WITHOUT stipend

◦ All full-time, matriculated, domestic students at Stony

Brook are automatically billed for the University

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at the

beginning of each semester.

◦ More information about this plan, other available

options and comparison between SHIP and NYS

Marketplace, are provided at Student Health Service

website, Student Insurance or visit Student Health

Insurance Office located in Stony Brook Union, Suite

250, Phone: (631) 632-6054

Domestic students WITH stipend (TA/RA/GA)

◦ As a Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant

(RA) and in some cases Graduate Assistant (GA), you

are eligible to enroll in Student Employee Health

Insurance Plans and you can/should waive “SHIP”.

Waivers must be completed on SOLAR at the start of

every academic year by the due date.

◦ For more information, check Human Resources

website, Benefits or visit Human Resource Services

located in 390 Administration Building, Phone (631)

632-6180

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Student Health Insurance

International Graduate Students on F-1 Visa WITH Stipend

Eligible TA and GA students and their dependents have the

option to obtain coverage under the SUNY Student

Employee Health Plan (SEHP), NYSHIP

Eligible RA students could enroll for health insurance plan

provided by Research Foundation of SUNY

Once you enroll in the employee health insurance and payroll

deductions begin, apply for waiver through your solar

account to remove the mandatory health insurance fee from

your student bill.

Please note failure to have or sign up for employee health

insurance within 30 days of your appointment date will make

you liable for full payment of the mandatory international

student health insurance charge

For more information, check Human Resources

website, Benefits or visit Human Resource Services

located in 390 Administration Building, Phone (631)

632-6180

Please note if your employment status changes from State to

Research Foundation (GA/TA to RA) or from Research

Foundation to State (RA to GA/TA), you MUST sign up

AGAIN for employee health insurance within 30 days of your

appointment date.

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Student Health Insurance

International Graduate Students on F-1 Visa WITHOUT Stipend

International Students will be automatically enrolled for

mandatory Student Health Insurance (ISHI).

Spouse and/or children on F-2 or J-2 visa must also have

health insurance and you must pay the additional cost for

dependent coverage. This MUST be done through Student

Health Insurance Office within 30 days of arrival of your

dependents into the country, OR within 30 days of the birth

of a new baby, or your marriage, OR within 30 days of the

beginning of an enrollment period.

For more information on student insurance check Student

Health Service website, Student Insurance or visit Student

Health Insurance Office located in Stony Brook Union, Suite

250, Phone: (631) 632-6054

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Visa & Immigration Services International students on visa are obligated to comply with

the immigration laws and regulations of the United States.

VIS provides information and services regarding these

regulations for students and their dependent spouse/child

Services provided include but not limited to travel signature,

visa status change, employment permission

In addition, you could find information on how to apply for

Social Security Number(SSN) , NYS Driver’s License and

Federal and State Tax Returns

Make sure to contact VIS if there is any change in your

degree program, education level, source of funding or any

intention to research/study abroad

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Housing On Campus Housing On campus housing location options for graduate students:

Chapin

Schomburg

West

If you are not currently living on campus and would like to relocate if there is an opening, register for the housing waitlist with your Net ID and password in the housing portal and read about the Housing Application process on the Campus Residence Website at studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/res

Off Campus Housing SBU does not have any University owned off campus housing. All off campus listings are privately owned. Office of Commuter Student Services & Off Campus Living maintains an up to date rental listing service and Roommate Search through their website at och.stonybrook.edu

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Parking

To park on campus, your vehicle must be registered and display a

valid parking permit. Parking permits are color coded and correspond

to signs posted at each parking lot. Additional information can be

obtained online at stonybrook.edu/parking

You can apply for parking permit online or by visiting the Office of

Parking Services which is located in the 2nd floor lobby of the

Administration Building.

Parking Meters:

Parking meters now exclusively accept credit or debit cards at all pay

lot stations. Metered parking lots (orange color-coded) must be paid

from 07:00AM to 07:00PM, Monday through Friday but are free at

all other times.

Lots are generally unrestricted and available for anyone to park from

4:00pm to 7:00am, Monday-Friday, and at all times Saturday &

Sunday unless otherwise noted. Check for signs at parking lot

entrances for restrictions.

Premium parking lots (brown color-coded) all require a Premium

permit. These lots include the following Brown Zones: Stadium Lot,

Life Sciences 1 & 2, Simons Center and Dental School.

The Administration Garage is free on Saturday and Sunday.

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Parking Map

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Campus Dining Official on campus dining locations:

Student Activities Center

Roth food Court

West Side Dinning

Jasmine

Food truck

Simon Center

Starbucks

Tabler Café

Center for Global Studies and Human Development (Opening Fall 2016!)

West Side Dining

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Campus Dining Map

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Wolfie Wallet

When you arrive on campus one of the most important items you’ll receive is your campus ID card. Wolfie Wallet* is a campus administered prepaid declining balance debit account encoded on your campus ID. It is a safe and convenient way for students, faculty and staff to make food purchases from off campus merchants, wash and dry your laundry, make purchases from vending machines, mail packages in the residential mailroom, purchase tickets through the ticket office, and shop at campus dining and retail locations.

Wolfie Wallet can be used at these local merchants:

To access your account and add money, visit: http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/fsa/accounts/wolfie-wallet/

*Wolfie Wallet is not part of the meal plan or Bookstore Campus Account.

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Nearby & Off Campus Dining

East Campus - Stony Brook Hospital Dinning Hall - Stony Brook Hospital Starbucks Off Campus

Around the University: Curry Club, Noodle House, Green Cactus Fresh Mexican Grill, The Bench Bar & Grill, Subway, Cabo Fresh, Jake Starr, Kumo Japanese Steakhouse, Domino’s Pizza, Mc Donald's, Burger King, Greek To Go, Bagel Express, O’ Sole Mio, Long Island Bagel Café, Quiznos, Station Pizza & Brew, Jamba Juice, Crazy Beans Coffee Shop in Stony Brook Village

Smithaven Mall: Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, Bobby’s Burger Palace, P.F. Changs, Bahama Breeze Island Grille, Bonefish Grill, T.G.I. Fridays

Grocery Stores: Stop & Shop: 158 NY-25A, East Setauket Wild by Nature: 198 NY-25A, East Setauket University Asian Market: 1099 N Country Rd, Stony Brook Stony Asian Mart: 1087 N Country Rd, Stony Brook

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IREP Opportunities IREP stands for the Integration of Research, Education, and Professional Development. This office guides graduate students from all disciplines for available fellowships. Examples of fellowships include the U.S. Fulbright Student Program, Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Award Program, DAAD Study Scholarships, Boren Scholarships and Fellowships, and Schwarzman Scholars Program. Individual deadlines for these programs and for filing applications with the IREP office are very strict- explore and apply early! In addition, IREP provides guidance for abroad research opportunities?

Check out upcoming IREP events at stonybrook.edu/irep The IREP office is located in the Graduate School suite, on the second floor of the (old) Computer Science Building. Check the website for appointment and walk in hours. IREP can be reached by calling 631-632-1151 or emailing irep@stonybrook.edu

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Opportunities & Awards Funded by GSO

Resource Access Project The RAP provides travel grants to graduate students attending scholarly conferences and/or workshops. Each graduate student may be reimbursed up to $350.00 each fiscal year. Reimbursement for lodging costs at conferences in the 5 boroughs of New York City or on Long Island will not be given.

Distinguished Travel Award The Distinguished Travel Award is a special line of funding designated to support graduate students who present their work at prestigious conferences, performances and professional meetings that will contribute to and build the national and international reputation of their department and the University. This is a competitive award funded by the Graduate School and the Graduate Student Organization.

Inter-University Doctoral Consortium Travel Graduate students enrolled in courses at IUDC universities can qualify for a reimbursement of some expenses incurred in traveling to class. The maximum amount for reimbursement is to be decided by the Budget Committee based on the number of applications, and may not exceed 50% of the total cost incurred.

Cold Spring Harbor and BNL Travel Commuters to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory will be reimbursed for 50% of the total costs incurred for their travel using public transportation such as LIRR or bus services.

Seminar/ Workshop Travel Graduate students attending an academic workshop or seminar in New York City can qualify for a reimbursement of travel costs. Reimbursement is limited to 4 times per semester.

For more information please check sbgso.org/index.php/funding

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Additional Resources

SINC SITES are public computer labs open to all students. Students are provided with a semester long quota of pages in the SINC sites for printing use. You will need your Student ID card to access printing services. Refer to it.stonybrook.edu/services/sinc-sites for hours and locations throughout campus LIBRARIES on campus include Melville (West Campus) and HSC (East Campus). More info and hours at library.stonybrook.edu CAREER CENTER offers services to students seeking jobs and internships, resume review, interview help, and other services. The HANDSHAKE system is SBU’s online career portal. Visit stonybrook.edu/career for office hours and additional info or call 631-631-6810 or email sbucareercenter@stonybrook.edu BANKING & ATM’s are both available on campus. Island Federal Credit Union is SBU’s banking partner. Two locations of branches include SAC Lower Level and HSC Level 2. UPS STORE is available on campus for printing and copying needs. Located in lower level of Melville Library. More information at stonybrook.edu/fsa/services/the-ups-store CAMPUS RECREATION has a fitness center on campus open to graduate students at an additional fee. Visit studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/rec for more information STALLER CENTER is SBU’s home for the arts. It has performances, movies, and art exhibits throughout the year. Visit stallercenter.com for more information and show times. ZIPCAR is a car sharing service located on campus. Having a valid driver’s license, students can rent a car for daily use for a fee. See details and register for an account at zipcar.com/sbu SBU WOLF RIDE BIKE SHARE allows all students to rent a bicycle for on campus use and it is FREE for up to 60 minutes. More information can be found at stonybrook.edu/sustainability/biking-at-stony-brook/wolf-ride-bike-share

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Quick Reference Directory

Bursars Office …………………………………….. (631) 632-9316

Campus Recreation……………………………..… (631) 632-7168

Campus Residences ………………………………. (631) 632-6750

Career Center …………………………………….. (631) 632-6810

Child Care Services ………………………………. (631) 632-6930

Commuter Services & Off Campus Living ………. (631) 632-7353

Counseling & Psychological Services……………. (631) 632-6720

Disability Support Services ……………………… (631) 632-6748

Faculty Student Association ……………………… (631) 632-6517

Financial Aid Services ……………………………. (631) 632-6840

Graduate School …………………………………... (631) 632-4723

Graduate Student Employees Union (GSEU) …….. (631) 512-0587

Graduate Student Organization (GSO) …………… (631) 632-6492

Ombuds Office …………………………………… (631) 632-9200

Registrar’s Office ……………………………….... (631) 632-6175

STALLER Box Office ………………………….... (631) 632-2787

Student Accounts …………………………………. (631) 632-2455

Student Health Insurance ………………….……… (631) 632-6054

Student Health Services Center …………….…….. (631) 632-6740

Title IX Office ……………………………….…… (631) 632.6280

Veterans Affairs …………………….…………….. (631) 632-4143

Visa & Immigration Services …………….……….. (631) 632-4685

Police (EMERGENCY ONLY) ….…… (631) 632-3333

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