2011 - 2012 Orientation Information
for New Graduate Students
Contents
- Welcome
- Office Hours
- Information and Forms
- Orientation
- Faculty
- Office Staff
- Course Registration
- Graduate Research Assistantships
- Study Permits
- Graduate Teaching Assistant Marker
- Key Requests
- Desk Requests
- Lockers
- Copier and Printer Access
- Graduate Student Database
- Graduation Procedure
- Orientation Downloadable Package
- Useful Links for New Graduate Students
Welcome
The information listed below should help your introduction to the Department and minimize delays in the Civil Engineering office. Please read these notes before requesting assistance.
Office Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00am - 4:00pm (closed from 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm)
Information and Forms
The following forms are available in the Civil Engineering Office:
- Summary Information sheet
- Administrative program guidelines:
– PhD., MASc and MEng - Desk Request form
- Key Request form
- Graduate Student Data form
- Course Registration Request form
- Computer Lab Info
- Letter Request form
- Checklist for Graduating Graduate Students
Please place all completed forms in the Student Request Tray on the front counter, and expect a turn-around time of 2 days (except for desk requests). If required, responses will be delivered to your mailbox.
Orientation
Thank you to all of the Graduate Students who participated in the orientation on Friday, September 9th.
Following the Orientation meeting, Dr. Jonathan Fannin will post his full presentation here for students to review.
Faculty
The following Faculty members have particular responsibilities that relate to graduate students. Please consult them as appropriate, if the need arises:
| Title | Name | Room | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head of the Department | Dr. Reza Vaziri | 2002E | 604.822.1212 |
| Associate Head, Graduate Program | Dr. Jonathan Fannin | 2032 | 604.822.3557 |
| Graduate Advisor (Admissions) | Dr. Tarek Sayed | 2026 | 604.822.4379 |
| Graduate Advisor (Awards) | Dr. Loretta Li | 2021 | 604.822.7820 |
Meeting with Advisors
Prior to registering in courses, please arrange to meet first with your Specialty Advisor as follows:
| Specialty Group | Advisor | Room | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
Civil Engineering Materials |
Dr. N. Banthia | 2024 | 604.822.9541 |
| Environmental Engineering | |||
|
Dr. G. Lawrence | 2030 | 604.822.5371 |
|
Dr. E. Hall | 2033 | 604.822.2707 |
|
Dr. L. Li | 2027 | 604.822.1820 |
|
Dr. V. Lo | 2004D | 604.822.4880 |
|
Dr. S. Chieng | 2035 | 604.822.4426 |
| Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental Geotechnics | Dr. D. Wijewickreme | 2037 | 604.822.5112 |
| Hydrotechnical Engineering | Dr. G. Lawrence | 2030 | 604.822.5371 |
| Project and Construction Management | Dr. T. Froese | 2021 | 604.822.2027 |
| Structures Engineering | Dr. Ken Elwood | 2015 | 604.822.0581 |
|
Dr. Ken Elwood | 2015 | 604.822.0581 |
| Transportation Engineering | Dr. T. Sayed | 2026 | 604.822.4379 |
Office Staff
The following personnel have duties which directly relate to graduate students:
| ROOM | TITLE / FUNCTIONS | ROOM | PHONE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clare Quirk | Manager of Administration | 2002C | 604.822.5922 |
| Leiz Gagnon | Department Administrator | 2002D | 604.822.1212 |
| Kelly Lamb | Administrative Coordinator | 2002B | 604.827-5824 |
| Jessie Wright | Finance Manager | 2004A | 604.822.6715 |
| Glenda Levins | Graduate Secretary Desk | 2002 | 604.822.0667 |
| Thomas Dunn | Faculty Secretary | 2038A | 604.822.4429 |
| Sheeraz Marfatia | Clerk, Research Accounts | 2002B | 604.822.0662 |
| Kimberley Brown | Information Desk | 2002 | 604.822.2637 |
Course Registration
Please see your Specialty Advisor or Supervisor before registering in courses. Then register directly for all courses using the online registration system, including adding or dropping courses. If you are unable to do so, and require the Department to register you in a Civil Engineering course, please complete and submit the Course Registration Form. You will be contacted about the change only if there is a problem. For courses in another Department, please contact that Department directly.
Graduate Research Assistantships
If you are to be appointed as a Graduate Research Assistant, please request your Supervisor or Specialty Advisor to complete the necessary paperwork and submit it to the Civil Finance office. If you are a non-Canadian citizen, you will need submit an Employment Contract which needs to be completed fully with your employer’s signature (your supervisor). Please note that foreign students can only work at the school where Citizenship and Immigration Canada has granted the student authorization to study. Employment Contracts are available at the Front Desk of the Department of Civil Engineering. Once you have obtained a SIN, you will need to submit a copy of your Study Permit and your SIN to the Finance Office in order for your appointment to be processed.
Study Permits
Don’t forget if you renew your study permit, you must also renew your MSP and SIN. You can apply for a new study permit 60-90 days before it expires. Please complete the Letter of Request Form.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Marker
Candidates who held TA positions during the previous Winter Session and who are entitled to a renewal under the terms of the Collective Agreement (Article 13.03) are preferred candidates for TA positions for the 2010-11 Winter Session. TA incumbents must re-apply for the coming Winter Session no later than April 30. New applicants must submit their applications no later than May 31. If there are any TA positions remaining to be filled, they will be posted on the bulletin board found in the Graduate Student Lounge.
Since GTAs play a very important role in our undergraduate teaching process, all prospective students who have not held a previous TA position are required to attend the Engineering Faculty TA Training Program. For more information, on the Training Workshops, please contact Glenda Levins or visit the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) website.
Student mail is delivered to the Student Mail Boxes located in the Graduate Student Lounge. Any mail received for students who have completed their programs will be returned to sender, unless a forwarding address has been given to the Civil Office. Mail will be forwarded for 3 months only.
Key Requests
Please complete and submit a Key Request Form in order to obtain keys to a building entrance, or study desk room. It will take a minimum of 48 hours to process your key request form and you will be notified by email when it is ready. A $50 deposit is required by the Department and a one time $20 key deposit by Parking & Security. The deposit is refundable upon return of the keys.
Desk Requests
Desks are allocated to MASc. and PhD. students only. The Department strives to provide new PhD. students with a desk by no later than the end of the first term that they are here, and for MASc. students, no later than the end of the second term that they are here. The availability of desks is dependent on previous students completing their thesis work in a timely way.
- If an MASc. or PhD. student is absent for more than 3 months, any desk assigned to the student will be reassigned.
- Desks are grouped in areas of specialization. Therefore, priority is given to students in that group area.
- If you are allocated a desk outside your specialization group, you should be prepared to move to your group space once a desk becomes available.
- Desk allocations will commence during the last week of September.
- Please complete and submit a Desk Request Form to the Graduate Support Desk.
Lockers
Contact the Civil Graduate Student Society.
Copier and Printer Access
The Graduate Student copier is located in CEME Room 1007. Cards to access the copier, as well as the Computing Laboratory printer, may be purchased from the Graduate Student Copy Reps. Students are not permitted in the Department Copying Room.
Graduate Student Database
If you are a new student to the Department, please complete and submit a Graduate Student Data Form. If you change your address/email address, please inform the Graduate Secretary by submitting a completed new Graduate Student Data form with your new address.
Graduation Procedure
You must apply for graduation by completing an Application for Graduation form. The on-line graduation form is found on: UBC Student Services Calendar - Graduation.
Orientation Downloadable Package
Documents are in PDF format, you will require software such as Acrobat Reader installed. If you require more information, please refer to Adobe's home page for assistance.
- 2011 - 2012 Graduate Student Guidebook
- Computing Lab, Email and Internet Access
- Graduate Key Request
- Graduate Student Desk Request
- Safety & Environment Orientation
- Health and Dental Plan
- CIVIL Finance FAQ
- Prep Sheet for Campus Wide Login (CWL)
- Personal Data Form
- Department Policy on Student Accident Insurance
