This document is kept at: http://www.sfu.ca/biology/grad_caucus/Survival/survival.html
Home: http://www.sfu.ca/biology/grad_caucus/
Disclaimer: This document is currently under revision, and may be out of date with respect to names and titles, or procedures and resources available. If you see something you are interested in, please contact us, or confirm with other contacts at S.F.U.
Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences. This document was compiled to inform new graduate students about facilities and activities in our Department, the largest one in the Faculty of Science. We currently have 42 faculty members, 60 Ph.D.,54 M.Sc., and 29 M.P.M. students who have helped our Department gain an international reputation as one of the most modern interdisciplinary departments of biology in Canada. We hope this document will help you to get oriented within the Department.
Other publications that you may find useful are:
Faculty members have organized themselves into various Centers, Institutes and Research Groups. These include:
The Center for Environmental Biology was formed in 1998. It encompasses both the former Centre for Pest Management, which was formed in 1973, and the new Masters in Environmental Toxicology Program. The Centre for Environmental Biology is an integral part of the Department with 10 faculty members serving in the Center. 20% of all the graduate students in the Department are in the Master of Pest Management (M.P.M.) program. The Master of Environmental Toxicology Program (M.E.T.) will commence in the Spring Semester of 2000. The M.P.M. degree is heavily course oriented with students traveling during part of two summer semesters throughout B.C. and Alberta in order to examine critical problems in pest management.Although not required, almost all M.P.M. students also undertake research projects to complete their Professional Paper, which is defended as an M.Sc. thesis would be. The M.E.T. program is also a professional program, and will entail both coursework and a researched Professional Paper, which will be defended.
The I.M.B.B. was formed in June 1987 to foster and promote graduate training and research in molecular biology and biochemistry. The members of the Institute are drawn from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Kinesiology. Currently there are 16 faculty and several associate members. Students may enroll in the graduate program in Biochemistry, through the I.M.B.B., or conduct study and research in molecular biology under the guidance of faculty within the Department of Biological Sciences graduate program.
This group was formed in 1989 to pursue basic research in the field of behavioral ecology. Students in this group also form a large portion of the Department. Members of this group are drawn not only from our Department but from the Departments of Psychology and Archaeology as well.
This is the newest research group of the Department. The group consists of a senior and junior research chair, and other associated researchers. Graduate students and faculty conduct research mainly on the biology and behavior of migratory birds, in collaboration with the Canadian Wildlife Service. For more information, see their webpage at http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/
Simon Fraser University has an accomplished administrative staff. The following are the names, locations, and phone numbers for some of the more important ones (i.e., the ones that a graduate student may need to contact - for a more complete list, see the University Calendar):
|
Position
|
Name
|
Phone (local x)
|
Room
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Registrar
|
R. Heath
|
3224
|
MBC 3300
|
|
President
|
M. Stevenson
|
4641
|
SH 3200
|
|
Vice-President Research
|
B. Clayman
|
4152
|
SH 3195
|
|
Vice-President Academic
|
J. Waterhouse
|
3927
|
SH 3100
|
|
Dean of Science
|
M. Plischke
|
3771
|
P9451
|
|
D. Dadswell
|
5530
|
P9451
|
|
Dean of Graduate Studies
|
John Driver
|
6568
|
MBC 1100
|
|
V. Blaker
|
6568
|
MBC 1100
|
|
Awards Assistant
|
I. Woldenga
|
MBC 1100
|
|
|
Department of Biological Sciences
|
|||
|
F. Burrows | 4475 | B8255 |
|
3496 | ||
|
T. Williams | 3535 / 3540 | B8234 |
|
Bridget Fox | 3535 | B8232 |
|
L. Dill | 3664 | B8242 |
|
Marlene Nguyen | 3120 | B8255 |
|
B. Sherman | 3292 | B8257 |
|
B. Medford | 3301 | B8263 |
Centre for Environmental Biology |
|||
|
Z. Punja | 4471 / 3090 | B9229 |
|
3705 | B8255 | |
| Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry | |||
|
SSB 8176 | ||
|
E. Hammerley | 3991 | SSB 8176 |
The most important committee to the graduate population is the DGSC, which recommends acceptance of new students, sets and amends departmental policies for graduate studies, and generally concerns itself with most matters relevant to graduate students. The DGSC oversees student progress, evaluations, and student/supervisory committee relations. This committee consist of 5 elected faculty members, the Department Chairman, and 2 graduate student members. Each member has equal voting rights. This is a forum where students can directly influence the direction in which the Department is heading. The graduate representatives are elected (generally in early September) for a 1 or 2 year term. All full time students are eligible to stand for election or to nominate candidates.
The Scholarship Committee is another committee of importance to graduate students. This committee meets to rank graduate fellowship and scholarship applications for the Department. One elected graduate student sits on this committee.
All graduate students must register each semester. The DGSC secretary will put your registration package with details of registration procedures and course offerings in your mail box approximately 2 months before the next semester. Registration is done through Telereg, a telephone registration service. The phone number and procedures are outlined in detail in the registration package. Students officially off campus will have their forms mailed to them. Students must register for their thesis or project each semester (Ph.D. = BISC 899, M.Sc. = BISC 898, M.P.M. = BISC 849, M.E.T. = BISC 656). Failure to register will result in the student being withdrawn, and required to complete a new application for admission to graduate studies if he or she wishes to continue.
Tuition and fees must be paid before the deadline announced each semester. Special arrangements may be made to defer payment or deduct it from paychecks or University scholarships, Teaching Assistantships, or Research Assistantships. There are a number of flexible payment schedules to choose from. Deferment forms are available upon registration. A newly-initiated $100 fee deposit must be paid five working days before students can register using the Telereg system.
The Department normally announces courses to be offered one year in advance. Students interested in courses not listed in the proposed offering notices should contact the faculty member in the area of interest. The instructor may negotiate with the Department Chairman to offer the course. Students can arrange with a professor for a specific directed readings course. Forms and instructions are available from the Graduate Secretary. Currently M.Sc. students must complete 4 grad courses (12 credit hours), and Ph.D. students 3 (8 credit hours); M.P.M. students must take 4 elective courses, 1 required course (BISC 847), and 5 summer courses (36 credit hours). M.E.T. students must complete 6 required courses in Biological Sciences, STAT 650 (23 credit hours) plus an additional 3 elective courses (9 credit hours) selected from a menu of suitable courses. Students may be able to take courses for transfer credit at other institutions, such as UBC. (see the graduate secretary regarding registration procedures). Up to one half of the required number of courses may be transferred from another institution, with permission from the student’s supervisory committee and the DGSC
A supervisory committee should be chosen in consultation with your senior supervisor. Choose members that will complement each other with respect to their experience and areas of expertise. These are your resource people and should give you as much breadth as possible; don't duplicate your committee members. Choose your committee as
early as possible and demand regular meetings: it's one of the responsibilities that they have assumed by agreeing to sit on your committee. Have your first meeting as soon as possible so that your committee is fully aware of your direction and research plans. Meetings must be held annually and summarized as part of your Annal Progress Report (section 3.1.6).
Each year, every grad student must submit a progress report to the DGSC Chairman. The due date for the submission of your progress report is six weeks after the start of the semester in which you entered your graduate program. For example, if you started your M.Sc. at SFU in September of 1998, your first progress report will be due six weeks after September 1, 1999. Similarly, if you started in January of 1999, your first progress report will be due six weeks after January 1, 2000.
The progress report form is available from the graduate secretary and does not need to be lengthy but should detail all sources of funding, courses completed, progress on research, and committee meetings held during the past year. A brief summary of your annual committee meeting must be attached to the form when submitted to the Graduate Secretary for approval by DGSC. These reports are the primary means that the DGSC has to evaluate student progress, and to ensure that all students receive appropriate funding and academic support from their committee. It must be approved and signed by all members of your supervisory committee. Each committee member is free to add comments directly onto your progress report.
The progress report must attest that, in the opinion of your supervisory committee, you have made satisfactory progress in your degree program. Should your supervisor or supervisory committee feel that your progress has not been satisfactory, then you may be asked to withdraw from your program.
During your first semester you will need to get your photo I.D. The photos are usually taken near the Student Society offices in the Maggie Benston Building (MBB) some time early in the semester. This card not only certifies that you are a student at SFU, but it is also your library card, and will soon also function as a debit card at various locations on campus, e.g. food services. Be sure to look good for this because you will be stuck with it for the entire length of your time here.
See the Laboratory Coordinator, Brian Medford, for key requisitions for offices, labs, buildings, cabinets, etc. Keys are available from the Campus Security and Locksmith office located between the Gym and the Information Office. A base deposit of $10 is required in addition to specific cutting charges (approximately $5) for each key. If you get locked out of your lab or office, Security will come to your rescue provided you have your student I.D. with you.
The Department strives to provide, but cannot guarantee, full support for all graduate students. It is imperative that you settle the question of financial support with your senior supervisor as soon as possible, preferably before arriving at SFU. It is quite conceivable that your supervisor may not be able to support you with a Research Assistantship or may be able to do so for only 1 or 2 semesters each year. Given the competition that exists for Teaching Assistantships, it is possible that you may not always receive a TA-ship and you will have to rely on your own private funds, scholarships, or student loans for a major part of your degree program. If you do not have a scholarship, your supervisor is required to provide some support for you for an average of 1.5 semesters per year. (M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs only.) The rest of the time you will be on your own to try to acquire a TA-ship or other funding.
Monies for Research Assistantships (RA-ships) come from grants to faculty from various external granting agencies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the B.C. Science Council. RA-ships are determined solely by your supervisor. The number of RA-ships that a supervisor may be able to provide to support students varies greatly. However, most professors with adequate funding are usually willing to give you one RA-ship per year. The current NSERC maximum rate for an RA-ship is $1375 per month for both M.Sc. and Ph.D. students.
For undergraduate education, SFU augments the regular lectures with tutorials. Graduate students are hired by the University to conduct tutorials, mark exams and assist in course labs. Each semester Teaching Assistantship application forms are made available so that graduate students can apply for a Teaching Assistantship appointment in the following semester. Before applying to TA a particular course you are advised to consult with the course instructor. The assignment of Teaching Assistantships to courses is done each semester by the Chairman, under the guidelines of the TSSU (Teaching Support Staff Union) Collective Agreement. Details on TA-ships can be obtained from the Departmental Assistant or the Graduate Student Notice Board by the mailroom.
The key to successfully applying for a TA-ship is to either get a professor to sign your application endorsing you for the course he/she is teaching, or to gain a high priority rating. Priority is determined according to a number of criteria.These are stated in the TSSU Collective Agreement and in the Departmental priority system (as posted on the Graduate Student Notice Board near the mail room). The best rule of thumb is that the fewer TA-ships one has had in the past, the better the chances for getting one in the future. Do not count on more that 1 TA-ship per year. If you have a scholarship, your only chance of obtaining a TA-ship is to demonstrate that you are the only grad student with the expertise required for a particular course. Some scholarships (e.g. NSERC) will permit the recipient to TA only a few hours per week. The best courses to TA depend on one's background, but one might consider BISC 100, 101, or 102. These classes are fairly easy to prepare for, but they may require a lot of time for graduate students who have forgotten much of their basic biology.
The current rate of pay is dependent on the teaching load and your status. A full teaching load is equivalent to 5 base units. For M.Sc. students the pay is $799 per base unit with an associated scholarship of $110 per base unit. This amounts to a total of $4681 per semester for a 5 base unit course. For Ph.D. students, the pay is the same but the associated scholarship is $279 per base unit so the total amounts to $5526 per semester for a 5 base unit course. For those with expertise in math or physics, contact the appropriate Department as they are usually crying for TAs. Many Biology students also TA courses in molecular biology and biochemistry (see the I.M.B.B. Administrative Assistant).
All TAs are represented by the TSSU (AUCE local 6). When you accept a TA-ship you automatically become a member of TSSU and therefore are entitled to all the rights and benefits provided by the Union. Everyone in the bargaining unit pays Union dues (currently 1.5% of gross pay) which enables the Union to function. There are usually one or two grad students from the biology department who serve as shop stewards (your departmental liaison with TSSU).
It is your right as a TA to have your students evaluate your performance and this is also required by the Department. The professor you work for also evaluates you and this goes in your file. You have the right to see this evaluation. If you feel it is unfair, you can respond to it and have this response placed in your file as well.
All textbooks needed to TA a course can be borrowed from the Departmental Assistant (DA). If the DA does not have the required text she/he will instruct you to buy the book yourself and get the cost refunded (keep the receipt!). In short, you never have to pay for texts assigned in classes that you are TA-ing. However, any book bought or borrowed from the Department belongs to the Department and must be returned when the course ends.
TA workshops are held in the fall and spring. These workshops are offered by the Centre for University Teaching to provide new TAs with skills to assist with the duties of a TA.
Graduate students at SFU are fortunate in having a large number of scholarships available. The University Calendar and Graduate Awards booklet (from the Dean of Graduate Studies) lists all awards; the Awards Assistant (phone 5411) can supply further details. Application forms for most awards are available either from one of the department secretaries (currently Sylvia Foran or Faith Rapchuk) or from the office of the Dean of Graduate Studies, room AQ6046. Note that some scholarships preclude the possibility of concurrently holding an RA-ship or TA-ship or Graduate Fellowship.
There are about 110 awards, scholarships, etc. that are listed, but only about 57 of them would be of interest to students in Biological Sciences. A complete list of awards is available on the Graduate Awards Database which can be accessed on the web at http://fas.sfu.ca/projects/GradAwards/ . At this address you can search for awards by keyword, department, date, or award title.
Graduate students are eligible to apply for Canada Student Loans. Students from Quebec have to apply for Quebec Student Loans. Emergency loans of up to $300 are available from Financial Aid with a minimum of hassles. The University usually requires proof that you will be able to pay it back within a month. This is particularly useful when your scholarship cheque doesn't come in until the third week of the month ... a little late for rent.
If your supervisor has funds to cover travel expenses (and approves of such expenditures) then expenses can be reimbursed by the Departmental Assistant, which usually takes about 4 weeks. It's quicker to apply for a travel advance (about 1 week) and submit the expenses later. Disbursement of NSERC funds for travel and field expenses are expected to conform with their guidelines. Check with your supervisor.
Students who pay some of their own cost for traveling to a conference may be eligible for a partial rebate (usually up to a maximum of $100) from money made available by the Student Society. The availability of rebate money varies from semester to semester. For nearby conferences, departmental vehicles can be used. There is a mileage cost, but this is reasonable if there is a group going.
Minor expenses (less than $50 on any one receipt) can be reimbursed by one of the staff members in the General Office. Please keep your receipt for any purchase. The costs will be deducted from your supervisor's grant. Limit $50/receipt/day.
Mail is delivered to the Department each morning and sometimes in the afternoon. It is distributed to the graduate student mailboxes by the office staff. Interdepartmental mail is also received at this time. Announcements and memos are placed in your boxes as well as posted on the Graduate Student notice board near the mail room and sent on e-mail.
Research mail supported by our senior supervisor (letters connected with research projects, reprint requests, reprint mailings) is paid by the Department. If speed and security are of importance, the University uses registered mail, X-Press post and courier services for packages. The staff in the General Office have the appropriate forms for such mail. Out-going mail sorting boxes are available from the stationery stores in the mail room.
Students may send personal mail through the university provided sufficient postage is attached. Custom labels, postal codes, etc. are the responsibility of the sender and mail will not be handled without these. You can ask one of the staff in the General Office for help if you are uncertain about requirements. Students can use the system for interdepartmental mail and mail to UBC as well. Both of these types of mail require no postage.
To avoid excessive use of paper and copying, communication within the Department is achieved via e-mail, the internet (web-pages), and various notices on bulletin boards. Occasionally memos are distributed in the mailboxes but there is generally only one put in each box so all members sharing a box can read it. All students receive a computer
account from computing services from which they can access UNIX and the internet. Students should sign onto the mailing list "bisc-grads" as soon as they receive their computer account.
The Department has 2 photocopiers in the mailroom: one for students and the other for faculty (you can use this one too if it is not busy). Each student should get a copycard from the General Office (see Manoj Bhakthan) from which $.05 will be deducted for each copy made. Your research supervisor will be charged for your copying. You should refund your supervisor for any personal copying. M.P.M. and M.E.T. students should see the C.E.B. Director for copycards. Copying related to teaching duties or required by courses is paid by the Department. A separate course copycard will be provided for this. Should the copier break down or a piece of paper become jammed (a common occurrence) contact one of the staff in the General Office.
The library also has card operated photocopiers which require yet another copycard. Your supervisor may provide one or they can be purchased in the library. Also be aware that using the departmental copiers is considerably cheaper ($.05 per copy instead of $.10 in the library).
If you need a large number of copies of some material (likely to occur when you are TA-ing) it is less expensive to send your papers to Central Duplicating. Ask Manoj in the General Office for the appropriate forms.
Typewriters are available in the Macintosh computer lab (B8253).
Office supplies (letterhead, envelopes, etc.) are available from the Biological Sciences Photocopy Room. Other supplies such as pens, overhead pens, overheads, paper, etc. are available from Science Stores. Supplies to TA a course or for scientific correspondence are charged to the Department. Taking items for personal use (i.e., for a course you are taking, etc.) is discouraged.
Many students are provided desk space by their supervisor. If, however, your supervisor does not have space available arrange with the Departmental Assistant for a place in one of the areas reserved for grad students. M.P.M. and M.E.T. students should see Marlene Nguyen for assignment of desk space.
The directory lists the names, room numbers, and phone numbers for all grad students, faculty and staff and is available to grad students. Copies can be obtained off the Biology web page (www.sfu.ca/biology) under ‘People’.
There is a fax machine in the General Office. Fax cover sheets and instructions on how to use the machine are available beside it. There is no charge for local faxes but to send a long distance fax you will need a code to charge it to your supervisor's grant. The office staff collects and distributes faxes received to the mailboxes.
The Department has 2 greenhouses, an insectary, an insectary annex with rooms for rearing and research, a bee building, aquatic research center, animal care facility, museum, radioisotope lab, and an analytical lab. If your work requires lab animals, they can be kept in the Animal Care Facility (ACF). It is staffed by a Director (Dr. A. Harestad), a Manager (D. Jol), and research technicians and assistants. See the campus directory and Policy AC 36 for further details. There is a cost for using the facility, but it is reasonable for the service.
Further information is also available on the biology department's web site: http://www.sfu.ca/biology/facilities/
|
Facility
|
Name
|
Phone
|
Room
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Animal Care Facility
|
|||
|
M. Stephens
|
4737
|
ACF
|
|
Greenhouse
|
|||
|
L. Dodd
|
3289
|
Greenhouse
|
|
Museum
|
|||
|
S. Halford
|
3461
|
B8239
|
| Insectary | |||
|
A. Syed | 4281 | K7612 |
| Radionuclide facility | |||
|
S. Hope | 3506 | B7249 |
SFU provides e-mail, web services, and academic computing labs for the campus community- see http://www.sfu.ca . To get a computer account, contact Computing Services located on the first floor of Strand Hall (at the beginning of a semester check outside of the microcomputer store in the Maggie Benston Building). You may also sign up for your computer account by accessing SFU's web pages from a computer in the library or from an off-campus computer to which you have internet access. You must be registered as a student in order to obtain a computer account.
In general, graduate computing facilities are to be provided by individual supervisors, and the university-wide Academic Computing Services. The department has a variety of facilities (http://www.sfu.ca/~carmean/biofacilities.html) including two dedicated computer teaching labs (B8218- 15 Pentium PCs; B8220- 12 Power Macs) which are also available for graduate use when they are not booked for teaching. The computers in these facilities are fully networked, and generally have most of the software supported by the university. Request a departmental Novell account to these labs from Dave Carmean (carmean@sfu.ca).
Technical and scientific supplies (tubing, pumps, valves, vials, petri dishes, various gizmos) are available in Science Stores on the 6000 level (1 floor below and to the West of the coffee lounge). Materials can be charged to your supervisor’s account provided that you have an understanding with your supervisor. There is usually someone on hand during working hours (8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to help you or you can help yourself. Just remember to fill out the supply forms when you take something. Chemical supplies are available here as well. If you require something that is not a regular stock item, it can be ordered from a chemical or scientific supply company. Order catalogues and forms for blanket orders or specialty orders are available as well. While Science Stores has a FAX machine (291-4581), the staff prefer that you use the General Office machine to send orders. Research related calls can be made from stores and charged to your supervisor's account.
The library is located across the mall from the Maggie Benston Building. The Department has a Library representative, Dr. Jay Burr. Requests for new journal subscriptions, books, etc. not available in the Library can be submitted to the Library representative. One can also make requests directly through the staff in the Library.
Being a graduate student at SFU entitles you to get a card from UBC. Also, if our Library does not carry a journal or have a book that you need, you can request them through Interlibrary Loans (ILL). This accesses libraries across Canada. Any book received through ILL can be kept for 2 weeks. Journal articles are copied and sent to you. Any books that you take out personally from UBC can be returned via the ILL office in the library. There is no cost to graduate students for this service.
A number of CD-ROM data bases are available for computer literature searches (e.g., Agricola, Biological Abstracts, CARL UNCOVER, Current Contents, Medline, etc.) These are located on the fifth floor of the Library and help is available at the reference desk, or can be searched via a netscape connection to the library. You can save your search by downloading it onto a disk (bring your own), or by sending it to your e-mail account.
The Mathematics Department operates a statistical advice service for students. The first hour of consultation is free but further assistance is available on a fee for service basis and is charged to your supervisor's grant. Appointments must be made in advance. Statistical advice should be obtained before you design your experiment....makes analysis a lot easier.
The instructional media center is located in the Multi-Purpose Complex (MPC7512). The I.M.C. offers services in photography, cine and animation, audio systems and graphics. I.M.C. also offers technical services including servicing of departmental audio-visual equipment and systems. Please take note that I.M.C. charges for all services rendered.
In addition the I.M.C. has a student self-help room. Here, you can get the necessary materials and instruments to make your own figures, graphics, and overheads. There is a minimal cost if you use their materials.
AudioVisual Services is located in the South East corner of the Academic Quadrangle. Here one can sign out slide and overhead projectors, T.V. monitors, tape players, etc. One can also get tapes copied and arrange for filming of experiments.
The department has several cameras and photographic stands. You have the resources here to make your own photos and slides, all you need to pay for is the film. It is substantially cheaper for you to make your own visual aids rather than having the people down at the I.M.C. do it.
Students have available to them the services of metal, glass blowing and electronics shops. They are located on the 8th floor North of Chemistry. Woodwork is done in the Facilities Management building, located south and across the road from the Applied Science Building. If you need a project done by these people, see the Lab Coordinator for a work order. Your supervisor will be charged for work done in these shops and projects are not always completed at the breakneck speed that graduate students are accustomed to.
Department vehicles (passenger vans) are signed out from the Lab Coordinator. It is usually a very good idea to request a vehicle well in advance of when you actually need it (particularly in the summer). The costs will be charged to your supervisor. The cost of using a private vehicle for research may be reimbursed at the rate of $.30 per km. Several small boats and motors are available in the Department. See the Laboratory Coordinator if you want to use one. Some faculty members have research vehicles as well.
Some gear can be rented from the Outdoors Club situated on the way to the gym.
The Radiation Safety Officer (K. Scheel) and the Radio-Isotope Technician (S. Hope) offer a short course on the safe handling of radioactive materials at the beginning of every summer semester. This course contains much practical information and only takes a few hours over 2 days. Literature on the handling of other Biohazards can be obtained from Nora McGregor at 291-5626.
Department safety manuals and WCB regulations are posted in each main laboratory. Also, new students are required to attend Occupational Health and Safety seminars (scheduled in fall and spring semesters.)
There are several regular seminar series in the Department. The formal Departmental Seminar Series is on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m., with a reception for the speaker following immediately afterwards. The speakers are either invited from other institutions or are faculty members within the University. Speakers are usually available to meet with interested parties sometime during the week of their seminar. Anyone interested in meeting the speaker can arrange for time with whomever is the department host.
Another seminar series is Les Ecologistes, which meets at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays. This is a more informal series run by graduate students consisting of people from both within and outside the Department speaking on their current research. The focus is on more ecological and evolutionary topics. The I.M.B.B. also hosts a weekly seminar series on Friday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. All students are encouraged to participate and give talks as it is an excellent learning experience and a forum for constructive feedback.
Sports play a vital role in the graduate career of many students in the Department. Friday afternoons are dedicated to 2 different levels of ice hockey. Biology has several teams in slow-pitch softball, indoor soccer, basketball, and volleyball. Note that gym membership is included automatically in your student activity fee although lockers are extra.
There are also aerobics, swimming, karate, kayaking, and scuba classes. The schedules for all sports and classes are printed shortly before the beginning of each semester. There is also an SFU outdoors club which skis, climbs, canoes, hikes, etc. and rents out gear at a very reasonable cost. If you are interested in participating in any sport, just ask around the Department. You should be able to rapidly find people with similar interests.
Most student services are located in the MBB across from the library. These include a pub, cafeteria, print shop, ombudsman, cashier's office, volunteer center, Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) office, bookstores (2), microcomputer store, employment center, housing office, native student centre, registrar, centre for students with disabilities, Travel Cuts, health services, counseling, Science Alive, a chaplaincy and many more.
SFU shows recent and classic films free of charge for all students with valid I.D. in Images Theater (located at the North West corner of the AQ). For schedules see the student newspaper (The Peak) or get a copy of the film schedule at Images Theater. Movies are shown only during Fall and spring Semester.
The SFU Theater Company produces plays and dances throughout the year. These are not free, but the cost is minimal. Often one or two lunch time performances are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters. The SFU Theater offers free concerts every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Small musical groups performing a range of music and/or song are featured.
The Bank of Nova Scotia has a branch on campus located on the overpass above where the buses stop. There are instant-teller machines in the North East corner of the AQ, in the MBB (2), and in the West Mall Annex. Be aware, however, that they may run out of money especially on weekends, and they have been known to literally consume the occasional bank card.
Stamps are available from the Quad Books, the University bookstore, or the Student Society Offices. Mailboxes are located by the bus stop and the MBB.
Buses run regularly to SFU from about 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. This is an economical, environmentally conscious and fairly reliable method of getting to and from campus. In the winter, snowstorms may prevent buses from climbing the hill, but this is rare. Single trip fares are $1.50 and up, depending on how far and when you are traveling. However, B.C. Transit offers students a deal; purchasing a one zone fare card and a Fast Trax sticker will allow the user to travel as many times as he/she wishes anywhere during transit operating hours. Monthly fare cards, FastTrax, and Faresaver tickets can be purchased from the Student Society Office and Quad Books in the MBB. Schedules are posted at selected bus stops and are also available by the Student Society Office.
There are also notice boards around campus where one can join a car or van pool.
The SFU Student Society provides a number of services, but these are better explained in their yearly Almanac. The main offices are located in the MBB.
CUTS (Canadian University Travel Service) has an office in the MBB. If you are planning a trip, they can often find the cheapest way of getting you there.
Some food items are available from vending machines situated around the campus and residences. In the fall and spring semesters the CNIB operates a small food and grocery operation in the Academic Quadrangle next to the Simon C cafeteria. Gas is unavailable on campus (except from the food!).
The lots usually available to students are in the "B", "C" and "G" sections. Parking permits can be purchased at the Traffic and Security Office (currently $102.00/semester for C lot, $93.00/semester for B lot, and $170.00 for carpools.) Visitor parking is also available for $1.50 per hour or an all day maximum of $9.00. Traffic fines must be paid before you can renew your parking permit. After three parking violations your car can be booted and exorbitant fees must be paid for security to unboot your car.
There are a number of ways that graduate students can become involved in improving both the academic and general environment at SFU. Within our Department there are a number of committees that grad students can participate in. These include the DGSC (2 members), Department Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (1 grad member), Scholarship Committee (1 grad member) and Search Committees for new faculty members (1 grad member). In addition, our Department has an active Graduate Caucus (only grad students, no faculty) that meets twice a month to address graduate student concerns. Positions here include the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member at Large, plus places on any Caucus Committees. Other positions include Grad Caucus representative on the Graduate Issues Committee (University-wide grad organization), Science Representative on the Senate Graduate Studies Committee and TSSU steward(s) (stipend position). There is ample opportunity for you to become involved and to gain experience in departmental and University decision making. Just Do It!
Housing around SFU is often scarce and these days it is particularly difficult to find a suitable place nearby. However, the market can fluctuate and it may become better in the future. Living off campus nearby, one can reasonably expect to pay about $250-$450 per month for shared accommodation, depending, of course, on how shared or accommodating it is. For a one bedroom apartment expect to pay about $500-$700 in the Burnaby area. Houses can be rented for $800 and up.
Listings for apartments, rooms, or shared accommodations can be found posted by the Off Campus Housing Office located in room 1500 in the MBB. These postings are updated regularly. The Housing Office is open weekdays from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. People advertising here are generally looking to rent to students and ads placed here often do notappear in the local papers.
The on campus apartments available to grad students are the Louis Riel apartments (family housing: one bedroom, $513/mo; two bedroom, $631/mo), Madge Hogarth (women only) $1165/semester, Shell House and McTaggart-Cowen (co-ed dormitories) $1165-1282/semester, Hamilton Hall (one person/room; $1597/semester), and townhouses(one person/room $1577/semester).
The one bedroom apartments are small. However, they appear quite spacious because of full length windows across the outside wall. Not to worry though, storage lockers are allocated to each apartment so you don't have to keep all your junk in your apartment. Additional features include a common room (with TV), laundry facilities, and a recycling room (where you can leave or take both old furniture and clothes). The real attraction, of course, is that there is no lost time or cost in traveling to the university.
As there is no real market or post office on the mountain, shopping or mailing a package means a trip off the hill. Some essentials and snacks are available at the CNIB convenience store.
Admission to residence officially works on a point system (e.g., different points are awarded depending on where you come from, marital status, etc.) Scholarship students are highly rated in this system. Fortunately the manager (Bev Carlson) is super helpful. Note that a $20 non-refundable deposit is required to apply.
SFU Health Services, located in the MBB offers quality health care to students. There are a number of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and a psychiatrist on staff. Any student with current medical insurance is eligible for medical services. Please note that the Board of Governors requires students to have valid medical insurance as a condition of registration. Visa students are not eligible for the provincial medical plan. Students needing medical insurance can purchase a private plan through SFU Health Services.
SFU has a harassment office located in AQ5126 where students can turn for legal advice, counseling, and assistance if they experience professional, sexual, racial or other discriminatory harassment. There is also an ombudsoffice for legal advice and mediation in the event of any case of academic or non-academic dispute.