Earth & Planetary Sciences, McGill University.

Maps / directories

Downtown campus map
Macdonald campus map
Student directory
Staff directory
Unit directory

UNDERGRADUATE GUIDE PART I

This orientation handbook for the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences is an insider's look at the things you will need to know as a new undergraduate student from the moment you come into the department and throughout your undergraduate program. It is not intended to replace the academic calendar or provide a general guide to McGill University but to supplement these resources. You may find that it contains some helpful information for the duration of your undergraduate degree in EPS. The handbook is divided into two parts:

PART I: A GUIDE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES

PART II: AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

1. WELCOME TO EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES

You have joined a dynamic department that is ready to support your academic efforts as a new undergraduate student. Faculty, staff and students will do their best to make your transition to McGill as smooth as possible. Feel free to ask for advice, particularly from your fellow undergraduate students in EPS. The Director of Undergraduate Studies and the administrative staff in the main office will also be happy to help you.

An Added Welcome to New Exchange and International Students

If you are an exchange and/or international undergraduate student new to the Department and to Canada, we extend an added welcome. This handbook also includes a survival guide for living in Montreal. Although the survival guide has been specifically targeted at newcomers to Canada, Canadian students from outside Montreal or outside McGill may also benefit from it.

To exchange students: You will likely have already been to orientations and received lots of information before getting this handbook, but if there's anything that you're still missing, you should be able to find it here . If you have any further questions, we'll be happy help you out. Whether you're here for one semester or the whole year, you'll be considered as part of your core class (and its social scene!), and we hope that you enjoy your time here in EPS!

2. THE MOST WANTED PEOPLE ON STAFF AND FACULTY

The human resources within the department will be invaluable to you throughout your undergraduate program. They have provided an outstanding atmosphere of support for a productive academic life as an undergraduate student.

	Name	Position	Office	Ext	E-mail address
1.	Professor Andrew Hynes	Chair, fearless leader of our department	FDA 231	6768 or 5884	Email Andrew
2.	Professor Jeanne Paquette	Director of Undergraduate Studies	FDA 214	4402	Email Jeanne
3.	Anne Kosowski	Administrative Assistant	FDA 238A	3490	Email Anne
4.	Kristy Thornton	Student Affairs Coordinator	FDA 238	6767	Email Kristy
5.	Angela Di Ninno	Timetable & Scheduling Coordinator	FDA 238	6767	Email Angela
6.	Brigitte Dionne	Systems Administrator	FDA 209A	1724	Email Brigitte
7.	George N. Panagiotidis	Petrographic Services / Microscopes	FDA 006	3489	Email George

3. GETTING STARTED AT McGILL: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR NEW AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS .

Items that pertain specifically to international students are marked with an asterisk. You will need to register at the university. If at any point you wish to work within the department or anywhere else, you must open a bank account and acquire a social insurance number (SIN). The International Student Office located in the Brown Building offers a range of services, including providing information about Canadian visas, student authorization and immigration procedures.

A map of McGill University (online version at http://www.mcgill.ca/maps/), a map of downtown Montreal and a metro subway guide, which is available at any metro station, will all be helpful to you. They are also sold in the "Travel" section on the 3rd floor of the McGill Bookstore (3420 McTavish Street).

UNIVERSITY REGISTRATION & FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Course selection

Consult the course listing and descriptions for the current academic year. Undergraduate course descriptions are listed by departments in the McGill University course calendar (available in the main office) and can be downloaded from the McGill website at http://www.mcgill.ca/courses/. See the "Faculty of Science, including School of Computer Science" section for the required number of credits for your Science program, and "Academic Programs -> Earth and Planet Sciences (EPSC)" for information on the programs offered by Earth & Planetary Sciences. It is a good idea to consult with Professor Jeanne Paquette (EPS Director of Undergraduate Studies) to discuss the requirements of your program and ensure that you understand them.

Registration

Registration is done through Minerva ( http://www.mcgill.ca/minerva-students/ ), the web interface to McGill's database. The deadlines and late registration fees are given in the course calendar under "General University Information and Regulations -> Registration Periods". You may register for the next academic session through Minerva from any computer with internet access. Your student number and PIN are necessary to log into your account on Minerva. Your 6-character PIN number is initially "yymmdd" where yymmdd is the year, month and day of your birthdate, but a new PIN should be chosen right away. Once you have logged in, click on "Student Menu", then "Registration Menu", and follow the steps listed to register (either by checking the box in the Select column and clicking the Register button while in the "Look Up Course Sections" menu, or by adding the course CRNs into the "Quick Add/Drop Menu".

Computer network account

To gain access to the EPS computer network, follow the instructions in Section 8 under Computing.

Minerva

Minerva also records your personal information, home address, grades and fee information. It is up to you to update your new address in Montreal on this system as soon as possible under the "Personal Menu". Otherwise, documents from McGill (e.g., fee payments, book requests) will be automatically sent to your address prior to arriving at McGill. The "Student Records" menu allows you to request official transcripts and to view information on your grades and other academic-related information. You may also view your student account and print tax forms from the "Student Accounts" menu.

EPS entry codes

See Kristy in the main office for the entry codes to the computer room, main lounge, undergraduate lounge and photocopier room (Section 5).

McGill Student ID card

A few days after your registration, the Registrar's Office will be able to issue you a McGill student ID card. Starting September 1, you can obtain your student card at the Admissions, Recruitment and Registrar's Service Centre, Room 205 in the James Administration Building. You will need to bring your student ID number (e.g. given in your letter of acceptance), one piece of photo identification (e.g., passport, driver's license), as well as a document showing proof of citizenship (for Canadian students) or proof of legal status (for international students) if you have not already mailed it in. Your new student ID card also has a bar code for library access and the sports facilities. Expect to wait in line for about one hour.

Fee payment

You are required to pay university fees (e.g., tuition, student society). You may access information on the amount due, as well as the breakdown of the fees through Minerva on your Student Accounts menu. Payment of fees can be done from your bank, at a banking machine (ATM), through telephone/internet banking, by pre-authorized debit (e-cheque, see http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/e-bill/ for information on setting this up), by mail or by wire transfer. When paying by mail, cheques, money orders or bank drafts should be made payable to "MCGILL UNIVERSITY" in Canadian funds. Please ensure that your family name and student number are written on the front of the cheque.

FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE IN MONTREAL

Undergraduate student residences

McGill University offers three types of University housing to undergraduate students: dormitories, single or double bedrooms in shared-facilities houses, and shared apartments. Details on housing can be found at http://www.mcgill.ca/residences/undergraduate/admissions/. The shared-facilities houses are mostly coed except for one all-female house. All are fully furnished, with a common room and a shared kitchen, and are located at 505 ave. des Pins, 509 ave. des Pins, 510 ave. des Pins, 3601 University, and 3653 University.

To apply for undergraduate housing, check "yes" in response to the question regarding residence accommodation on the admission application form. If you have neglected to indicate that you wish to be considered for a space in Residences on the General Application Forms, please contact the Residence Admissions Office (3641 University Street, 398-6368).

Private apartment

The search for an apartment can be made easier by consulting the listings available through the McGill Off-Campus Housing website (http://www.mcgill.ca/offcampus/listings/), by consulting internal postings on bulletin boards at McGill or online (such as at http://www.mcgill.ca/classified/), and by scanning the classified ads in local newspapers. Most McGill students live in an area, affectionately termed the McGill "Ghetto", immediately adjacent to the McGill campus on its eastern side. Accommodations usually become available during the summer months and during the first week of September for a one-year lease. Simply look for the "À Louer" or "For Rent" signs in the windows or at the entrances and call for an appointment to view the apartment.

You can rent a "1½" (one room for bedroom and kitchen, separate bathroom) up to a "4½" (2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom) or more, depending on whether you prefer to live alone or wish to share accommodation. Rooms are generally not furnished; electricity, heating, and phone or internet connection are generally not included in the rent. Towards the end of August and the beginning of September, garage sales provide good opportunities to purchase second-hand furniture (posted on the street in the "Ghetto" or in the halls at McGill). You can also try the Salvation Army (1620 Notre Dame West Street) and other stores that specialize in second-hand furniture.

SOCIETIES & SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Science Undergraduate Society (SUS)

Every undergraduate student at McGill is automatically a member of SSMU. The headquarters are located in the Brown Building (3600 McTavish St). Their website (http://www.ssmu.mcgill.ca) is the easiest way to get information about SSMU, open positions in the union, your representatives, the various student groups on campus, organized events, and much more.

Every undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science is also automatically a member of SUS. They are located in the basement of Burnside Hall. Check out their website at http://www.susmcgill.com for information on your representatives, open position announcements, organized events such as Frosh, Carnival, blood drives, Judgment Day, and much more!

* McGill International Student Network

The McGill International Student Network (MISN) is located on the ground floor in Suite 1100 of 3600 McTavish, (between the Brown and Shatner Buildings). This society organizes language classes, various activities and social events throughout the academic year (e.g., Wine & Cheese party, field trips). The International Student Day is usually at the end of September and offers free entry to various cultural and historical spots in Montreal, accompanied by a reception on Mount Royal. During the registration period, further information and the schedule are available in the MISN lounge, on their website at http://www.misn.ca/, or by calling (514) 398-MISN. This shared facility is a good place to meet other international students.

AMENITIES

Food on the Run	The closest cafeteria to EPS is on the ground floor of the McConnell Engineering Building adjacent to FDA. Hot lunches, soups and sandwiches are available in the basement of the Burnside Building, also adjacent to FDA. There are many reasonably priced underground food courts downtown, e.g., at the Centre Eaton, Montreal Trust, Place Ville-Marie, and Cathedral. Thomson House (3650 McTavish) also serves meals between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Stationery & Photocopying	The McGill Bookstore (McTavish), Dollarama shops (St-Catherine, St-Laurent), and Bureau En Gros (at the train station, in the underground of Place Ville-Marie) are some of the stores nearby that sell stationery items. Photocopying and binding is available through the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) in the McConnell Engineering Building and also near McGill at various graphic service outlets (e.g., Copie Express, corner of Sherbrooke and University and Synergie, 666 Sherbrooke W). In the Schulich library, photocopying is available on the 1st and 5th floors. There is also a photocopier on the ground floor of FDA. Copy cards can be purchased on the 1st floor of the PSE library and can be repeatedly filled. The department photocopier (in the main office) is also available for your use (see Section 4).
Bookstores	There are several large bookstores nearby in downtown Montreal (e.g., The McGill Bookstore at 3420 McTavish, Paragraphe at 2220 McGill College, Indigo in the Montreal Trust Building (corner McGill College and St. Catherine) and Chapters on the corner of St-Catherine and Stanley). Second-hand books are available from a variety of shops near McGill (e.g., Word on 469 Milton Street, Welch on 3878 St-Laurent). Private sales of second-hand textbooks are usually posted in the hallways or on bulletin boards at McGill.
Post Office	The closest post office to McGill is at 800 René-Lévesque W (across the street from the Place Ville-Marie building). Small postal outlets are also located in the convenience store in the basement at 2001 University St. and at the Pharmaprix in Place Ville-Marie

4. GENERAL INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL NEED SOONER OR LATER

General McGill Phone Number	(514) 398-4455
Emergency Assistance (from within McGill	For external emergency assistance (ambulance, fire department or police), dial 911. For emergency assistance from McGill personnel (e.g., hazardous materials spills, flooding, electrical problems, security), dial 3000. For general maintenance problems (e.g., lighting problems, door locks, plumbing), call the McGill dispatcher at 4555.
Department Mailing Address	Earth & Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University St., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2A7
Department Phone Number (Main Office)	(514) 398-6767
EPS FAX Number (Main Office)	(514) 398-4680
Main Office	Most of the general information you will need can be found in the main office, Frank Dawson Adams Building (FDA), Room 238. Office hours are posted at the entrance.
Photocopying Facilities	The departmental photocopier is located in the room adjacent to the main office (FDA 237) along with assorted colour papers, the paper cutter and brown wrapping paper to wrap packages for shipment. Undergraduates do not have codes and are asked to pay for their copies in cash at a cost of 12 cents per page. Other photocopying facilities are also available in the McGill libraries and in local print shops in Montreal.
FAX Machine	There is no charge for local service. Long-distance faxes of a personal nature are expected to be paid for by the student using the price list located next to the fax machine. Faxes received will be left in the basket next to the machine until the student picks them up.
Mail	Internal McGill mail can be sent by depositing it in the red bag in the main office. External mail related to research can be sent by depositing it in the blue bag in the main office; no postage is required for research material. Personal mail should be deposited in Canada Post drop boxes; Canadian, American and international stamps can be purchased in the main office.
Mailboxes	There is an Undergraduate mailbox in the main lounge (FDA 229) in the bottom right corner of the set of mailboxes, shared by all undergrads. Please check it often, as you will not be personally informed when you have mail, and the box can fill up quickly.
Laser Printing (Pcount) Charges	All printing done in the computer lab (FDA 209) costs 12 cents per page and is charged to the student. These charges are sent monthly by Angela via e-mail. Please pay this bill in the main office as promptly as possible. If you are doing research for a supervisor, you are responsible for keeping track of which laser printing charges are personal, departmental or research-related.
Lounge	The lounge (FDA 229) is the hearth of the department for lunch and FREE afternoon coffee and cookies (3-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday). Most students have their own mugs, and are responsible for keeping them clean. A fridge, coffee machine, microwave and sink are available as are several journals and magazines for your perusal. All materials should be kept in the lounge. Please do your part in maintaining the cleanliness of our lounge.
Undergraduate Lounge	The undergraduate lounge is located in FDA 347 and includes desks and tables for study space, computers, and couches.
Seminar Room	The Gill Room (FDA 232) is used for lectures, guest speakers, oral examinations, thesis defenses, and internal departmental talks.
Lounge, Photocopier, and Computing Access	The lounge, photocopy room and computing facility are all under controlled access via an internal access code. See Kristy for the current codes; they are changed periodically for security reasons and are usually announced to users by e-mail. These codes are for members of EPS only; please do not provide these codes to people outside the Department.
Recycling	Recycling bins are available throughout the campus. Receptacles for paper recycling are located in almost every room in EPS, and bins for metal and plastic recycling are also located in the EPS lounge.
Telephone	There is a common telephone in the lounge (ext. 00020) that can be used for local outgoing calls only. The local McGill telephone directory, phone book and yellow pages are available in the lounge.
Phone Messages	Phone messages that are left for you in the main office will be transmitted by e-mail. Only in the case of an emergency will the Department seek you out in person to relay the message.
Video Library, Digital Camera	There is a video library in the main office from which items can be borrowed against your student ID card. A list of the video collection is available on a sign-out basis in the main office. A digital camera is also available to be signed out from the main office for research purposes--when returning it, please ensure that the software is in the box and the batteries are charged.
Office Equipment	Equipment that is made available on the counter in the main office can be used there but should not be removed.
Department Letterhead	Departmental letterhead is available from Kristy in the main office upon request at no charge.
Lab Keys	Should you be working for a faculty/staff member, consult your supervisor to discuss the keys you will need for your supervisor's research lab(s) and then see Anne in the main office for the request form (Section 5). There is a $10 deposit for obtaining regular keys, and a $20 deposit for Medico keys.
Payroll Forms	These forms are for tax and personal information, and will need to be filled out if you do any work for the Department or for a research supervisor. They are obtainable from Anne or Kristy.
Scholarship Payment	Department scholarships and bursaries are usually payable in the third week of a term (third week of September for Fall term; third week of January for Winter term). All scholarships are taxable in Canada.
Housing	If you're looking for a place to live, the search can be expedited by consulting postings of McGill's Off-Campus Housing service (http://www.mcgill.ca/offcampus/) and the classified ads.

5. THE MONTEREGIAN SOCIETY

The Monteregian Society is the society of undergraduate students within EPS and is responsible for coordinating several of the departmental academic and social activities, usually in conjunction with our graduate counterpart, the Adams Club. Every undergrad student within the department is an automatic member of the Monteregian Society.

The Monteregian Society website is at http://www.eps.mcgill.ca/monteregian/ and contains a list of the executive, photos, helpful links and even a blog that any undergrad can post to or comment on.

Responsibilities

The Monteregian Society executive is the EPS undergrads' connection to the other branches of the Department. Their responsibilities include:

ccommunications with the Department (or the Faculty of Science, if need be) on behalf of Earth & Planetary Sciences undergrads;
hearing out the undergrads and voicing any relevant opinions they may have;
planning certain events in the Department, such as the End of Year Party and Halloween Party;
sending representatives to departmental and SUS meetings and keeping students apprised of issues discussed in those meetings;
ensuring that all new EPS undergrads are welcomed into the EPS community!

Executive Positions

Elections for executive positions are held at the end of March. The positions are written on the board in the undergrad lounge, and students sign up for nominations. Elections are held one week after nominations. Students then send in their votes to the Monteregian website, and the outgoing representatives tally up the votes.

President

Vice-President (Internal) / Student Representatives to the Department (2)

Vice-President (External)

Vice-President (Communications)

Vice-President (Finance)

Positions are filled and/or new ones created (or sometimes merged) as necessary, but the above core positions tend to remain the same.

6. DEPARTMENTAL ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

Announcements for our departmental academic activities are usually made in advance by e-mail and on the departmental website: http://www.eps.mcgill.ca.

Guest Speaker Series

Professors coordinate the hosting of guest speakers from outside the department who give 50-minute oral presentations within various fields in the earth and planetary sciences. There is a question period after the presentation and guest speakers are encouraged to make themselves available during the day of their visit for less formal questions and discussion.

Speakers may also include representatives from exploration companies looking to hire students for the summer. These talks are a great way to learn about job opportunities and gain valuable information for job searches. The companies often offer free pizza and soft drinks.

Annual Trip to Latin America (The "Willy Trip")

Students in the Department organize an annual trip to a foreign destination for "Geotourism". The trip, led by Professor A.E. "Willy" Williams-Jones, lasts up to two weeks in February and overlaps with the study break. One of the two weeks is the study break week at McGill. Recent destinations have included Guatemala, Peru, Colombia, and even Tanzania and South Africa. The trip is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Organizers are sensitive to students' travel budgets. Planning starts in the Fall semester, with e-mail notices of organizational meetings to identify a destination.

McGill Student Chapter of the SEG

The McGill Student Chapter of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) is an organization within EPS with a mandate to help students gain a better understanding of the nature of ore deposits. Cost for membership for students is $15/year. The group invites guest speakers to cover a variety of topics within economic geology, such as ore deposit models, economic aspects of the mining industry, environmental consequences of mining, and environmental management. The SEG also organizes field trips in which members are invited to participate. Normally, transportation costs are covered. The group also subsidizes travel costs for students who participate in the annual Willy trip.

7. DEPARTMENTAL SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

A variety of social events take place throughout the academic year. Some occur on a regular basis; others are initiated more spontaneously. Take advantage of the chance to get to know the faculty and your fellow students in a less formal setting. These events are normally announced well in advance by e-mail.

FREE Coffee and Cookies EVERY weekday at 3-3:30 p.m. in the lounge. (Get there early before the cookies disappear).

BBQ on Mount Royal (mid-September)

Wine & Cheese Party (end of September)

First-Year Student Field Trip (same day as Wine & Cheese)

Trip to Bancroft for Rock Hounds (mid-October)

Thomson House Christmas Party (early December)

8.   DEPARTMENTAL FACILITIES

COMPUTING

Upon registration McGill will grant you a student e-mail account (firstname.lastname@mail.mcgill.ca). It is important to note that all official information, announcements and messages from McGill will ONLY be sent to your McGill e-mail account (please read the official McGill policy on e-mail communication with students at http://www.mcgill.ca/files/secretariat/E-mail-Communications-with-Students-Policy-on.pdf).

Please check your e-mail often as all Departmental notices regarding registration, scholarships, departmental announcements, etc. will be sent out that way. Pay attention to all notices coming from Anne, Kristy and Angela, or you may miss something important!

Getting Started

It is important to get a network computer account on Pebbles and Cobbles (EPS servers), which will grant you space on a network drive as well as ensure that you are added to the departmental e-mailing lists.

Brigitte Dionne is the resident computer expert for our departmental lab (Room 209). To apply for a network computer account, fill out one of the forms included in the main office or posted outside Brigitte's office (Room 209A, off the computer lab inside Room 209) and put it in her mailbox in the main office or return it directly to her. Your account will be created usually within one or two days; check back with Brigitte to see if it is ready. Brigitte will give you a login name and password on Pebbles and Cobbles that will allow you to login to any of the departmental networked computers.

What do we have?

The main computer room houses eight Intel PCs and two scanners. WinXP is available on the PCs with standard packages for word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), graphics (PowerPoint, CorelDRAW, Adobe CS, etc), internet access (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer), electronic mail (Mozilla Thunderbird) and some scientific software (MatLab, PASW). You can print in black and white on the HP LaserJet 4050N or 4250dnt printers and in colour on the HP Color LaserJet 5550hdn printer in the computer lab, but you will be charged for pages printed. Brigitte sends out summaries of your submitted jobs to the printers approximately once per month. You should arrange to pay for your printing with Angela in the main office once you receive a notice by e-mail.

You can create a home page on Cobbles and link it to the EPS web site: To create your own web page, login to your Cobbles account and create a file called index.html in the directory www. A skeletal index.html file looks something like this,

<html>
<head>
<title>Banana's Own Web Page</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="white">
This is the main body of my web page.
This is the <a href="http://www.eps.mcgill.ca">EPS</a> home page.
</body>
</html>

Your web page address would then be http://www.eps.mcgill.ca/~banana using the above example.

During high-use periods (usually right before assignments or final term papers are due) please be considerate about your use of the computer facilities; they are to be used efficiently and for research purposes.

Brigitte periodically updates the computing facilities and will notify you of any changes or additional software/hardware by e-mail. Do not install any software yourself on any departmental computer!

MICROSCOPY

Petrographic microscopes are stored in lockers in FDA 315. Students are assigned individual microscopes for use in labs; they should be promptly returned to the lockers after each session. You will be expected to pay a deposit of $30 if you are assigned a microscope. The deposit will be returned to you when the microscope is returned to the department at the end of the academic term in good working condition. George Panagiotidis (FDA 006) oversees the assignment of microscopes.

9.   McGILL LIBRARIES

Every academic session, the McGill libraries offer workshops for users. Announcements are usually posted in the libraries and are frequently circulated by e-mail. There are several libraries on campus; those most frequently used by EPS users are Schulich (PSE), Walter Hitschfeld Geographic Information Centre, Blacker-Wood, and MacDonald Campus.

Many course instructors also put copies of textbooks on reserve for shorter borrowing periods. You will need your student ID card to check out any library materials. Most of the journals and databases that you will need are available electronically on-line from the McGill library system. Interlibrary loans are also available upon request. For more information on how to use the libraries and the searching tools therein, keep an eye open for library workshops or contact the library personnel.

If you do not return a book on time, you will be charged late fees. If the book is lost, you will be charged a replacement fee. Note that if these fees are sizable enough, they will go on your record and may impede your registration. So make sure that you return those books!

10.   SCHOLARSHIPS

The first place to look for information on scholarships at McGill is the webpage at http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/scholarships/.

ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS

McGill Entrance scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 are open to all incoming students. Basic (one-year) scholarships are awarded based solely on academic achievement; all eligible incoming students are automatically considered for these awards. Major (renewable) scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and outstanding leadership in school or community activities; separate application forms are required for these. More information on minimum requirements and deadlines is available here: http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/undergrad2010-11/scholarships/ . These are awarded by the University Committee on Scholarships and Student Aid.

One such major entrance scholarship is the Petro-Canada Emerging Leaders Scholarships, available to outstanding and well-rounded students entering the B.Sc. program of Earth & Planetary Sciences (as well as certain B.Eng. and B.Com. programs). They are valued at $5,000 (renewable) and are awarded on the basis of academic standing, with consideration given to leadership in extracurricular and community activities.

Earth & Planetary Sciences awards two entrance scholarships of $1,000 each to qualified students admitted into our departmental B.Sc. program. Students entering the department will be automatically considered for this award, and awardees who maintain a high academic standing can expect to have the award renewed for subsequent years of their program. In order to eliminate differences in academic backgrounds, the award is based solely on academic achievement in the first (Fall) semester in the Earth & Planetary Sciences program. The recipients will be decided by the Chair of EPS, and the scholarships will be awarded in the Winter semester.

IN-COURSE AWARDS

Awards for in-course/returning students are awarded by the Faculty Scholarships Committees. For a list of awards, check out the online Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards Calendar at http://www.mcgill.ca/courses/. All students registered full-time (a minimum of 27 credits per year, excluding summer courses) in Earth & Planetary Sciences are automatically considered for these awards. They range from $800 to $4,500 and are awarded on the recommendation of the Department. A departmental scholarship meeting is normally held in May to decide on the distribution of scholarships for the following academic year. The final decision on the awards is made by the Faculty of Science.

NSERC USRA AND SURA

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) are for students who will be doing research over the summer, and are available only to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The student must apply through the Department (more information is available at http://www.mcgill.ca/science/ours/nserc/, and the forms can be found at http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/fellowships/undergrad/nserc-usra/). Earth & Planetary Sciences usually has 2-4 NSERC USRAs to award to students each summer, on the basis of academic merit. It is up to the student to approach a potential supervisor in the Fall or early in the Winter semester, as a summer research project needs to be agreed upon and described in the forms. The award is $5,625 for 16 consecutive full-time weeks of summer research work. This work may take place in a lab, in the field, or both, depending on the project.

The Science Undergraduate Research Awards (SURA) are almost the same as NSERC USRAs except that there is no citizenship requirement, and the award is for $5,600 for 16 consecutive full-time weeks of summer research work. Forms and more information are available at http://www.mcgill.ca/science/ours/sura/ .

If you have apply for an NSERC USRA, you will automatically be considered for a SURA as well, so you need not apply to both. You may only hold one award.

An email will be sent out to all undergrads during the Winter semester to announce the yearly competition and inform you of the deadlines for that year.

EXTERNAL AWARDS

Various external awards and scholarships are available to undergraduate students each year, offered by organizations such as the Canadian Mineral Industry Education Foundation. These are advertised over email and on the scholarships board in the main lounge. If required, reference letters from professors should be requested well in advance (e.g., two weeks or more) of any deadline.

Examples of these include:

CIM - Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
http://www.cim.org/students/catscot.cfm
Two scholarships, $2000 each. Deadline: mid-April.
PDAC - Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada
http://www.pdac.ca/students/awards/index.aspx
Four scholarships, ranging from $1000 to $6000. Deadline: early June.
GAC - Geological Association of Canada
http://www.gac.ca/awards/poster_award.php
Three poster awards ranging from $800 to $1000, for best posters presented at the annual GAC-MAC conference.
CSPG - Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology
http://www.cspg.org/students/students-scholarships.cfm
Three regional undergraduate scholarships of $1250 each. Deadline: May 31.
Glen Ruby Memorial Scholarship, ranging from $2000 to $5000 depending on undergraduate year. Deadline: October 31.
SEG - Society of Economic Geologists
http://www.segweb.org/students/StudentGrants.aspx
Several student research grants of up to $5000. Deadline: February 1.
CSEG - Canadian Society for Exploration Geophysicis
http://www.cseg.ca/students/scholarships.cfm
Deadline: mid-June.
CWLS - Canadian Well Logging Society
http://cwls.org/student.php
Award for undergraduate thesis research, ranging from $2000 to $7000. Deadline: March 31.
CGS - Canadian Geotechnical Society
http://www.cgs.ca/cgsnews/student-competitions
Individual and group awards, ranging from $500-$750. Deadline: late May.

There are even more opportunities out there, so be sure to watch your email for announcements!

STUDENT LOANS

If you require a student loan, please see the information at http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/government/canada/ (for Canadian students) or http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/government/us/ (for American students). International students who require financial aid should see the information provided at http://www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/financial/.

11.   SUMMER AND SEMESTER WORK FOR PROFESSORS

Each summer some EPS professors take on undergraduate students as research assistants. If you are interested in research or just looking for a summer job that will give you geo-experience, start asking around in February-March. Certain positions may get filled quicker than others depending on interest. There is nothing formal about it--simply approach the professor and let them know that you are interested in doing summer work and ask if they will be hiring for the summer.

Depending on the field of study, you may go out to do field work, stay and do lab work here in the Department, or get a mixture of both. Whatever you end up doing, you will be trained in the techniques and instruments that you will need, and gain valuable experience. You do not necessarily need to have been awarded a USRA or SURA in order to work with a professor in the summer (although available positions and salary will be dependent on the professor's funding), and students who have just finished their U1 year are hired just as often as those who have finished U2.

By doing research work in the summer, you gain more than experience. A project begun during the summer can also be the start to an independent study or even an undergraduate thesis. Even if you do not want to pursue that particular project, you will find out if you have a taste for research and might like to do it for credit the following year.

Although summer is the peak time to find work with a professor, undergraduate students are also hired during the semester, mostly as lab assistants. Odd jobs often pop up around the Department, such as moving and cleaning, or grading of exams in very high-enrollment classes. In this case, you are paid by the Department itself rather than a supervisor, usually at a rate of $12/hr.

Students working at any time of year who are not being paid through a USRA or SURA must fill out a time sheet each week, have it signed by their supervisor, and submit it to one of the administrative staff in the main office in order to get paid. Students get paid bi-weekly by direct deposit, and pay stubs are viewable in Minerva.

* Open a bank account

If you are an international student doing any work for a supervisor or for the Department, you will need to open a bank account in order to receive direct payments. The major banks in the vicinity of McGill are: the Royal Bank of Canada (branches on McGill College, the corner of Sherbrooke and Peel, and the corner of St-Catherine and Stanley), Bank of Montreal (branch on the corner of St-Catherine and University), CIBC (branches on Aylmer and Metcalfe), TD Canada Trust (branch on University between President Kennedy and de Maisonneuve) and Scotia Bank (branches on the corner of Sherbrooke and McTavish and in McGill metro station). The Royal Bank also runs several banking machines on the McGill campus (e.g., McConnell Building, Burnside Hall) which can be used to make your fee or bill payments directly.

Before opening an account, ask for information about student accounts and the associated payment/credit cards. Consult any bank branch for detailed information. To open a student account, you may need an official letter from the department to confirm that you are a full-time undergraduate student (ask Kristy in the main office for the letter), two photo-bearing pieces of identification (preferably passport and student ID card), your student visa authorization and your lease.

Once you have the bank account, you will need to submit the information through Minerva in order to receive direct-deposit payments. This form can be found under your Student Menu -> Student Accounts Menu -> Direct Deposit Bank Account.

* Apply for social insurance

If you do any work for a supervisor or for the Department, McGill requires that you apply for a social insurance number. The closest office is located at 1001 De Maisonneuve Boulevard East (2nd floor, phone (514) 522-4444, fax (514) 283-6085) and is open weekdays at 8:15 a.m. (9:30 a.m. Thurs) to 4:00 p.m. You may download the application form from the Government of Canada website ( http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/sin/index.shtml ) or pick one up at the nearest office. You may apply through the mail or in person, although it is safer to do so in person so that you do not have to part with your documents. These documents must be originals. Bring your passport, Study Permit / Student Authorization (issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada) AND a contract of employment from McGill University or from an employer on campus (the EPS main office can make one up for you). Expect to wait in line for 30-60 minutes.

12.   The EPS-ESS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FUND

The Earth & Planetary Sciences - Earth System Science (EPS-ESS) Undergraduate Research Fund provides seed money to undergraduate students, to encourage research at the undergraduate level and enhance the research experience for undergraduates. The fund is intended to defray part of the costs associated with an undergraduate research project and is not intended to cover all expenses. A broad range of undergraduate research activities will be considered for funding, including but not limited to field research, laboratory expenses, analytical costs, and student presentations at national and international conferences. Matching funds will come from the student and/ or supervisor.

The application is available at http://eps.mcgill.ca/EPSNews/EPS-ESS_Undergraduate_Research_Fund.pdf; applications should be submitted to Kristy in the main office by the date specified on the application. This competition is held once a year, with the application deadline sometime in November.

13.   mSURJ AND THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE

The McGill Science Undergraduate Journal (mSURJ) exists to encourage, publish and promote undergraduate research at McGill. The journal is published once a year, and papers must be submitted in early January. It includes research done in all fields of science, and articles are selected for publication on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis. Undergraduate students are encouraged to submit papers resulting from summer research, independent study courses, or undergraduate theses, and articles by EPS students have been published in previous issues of the journal. More information can be found on their website at http://msurj.mcgill.ca.

Each October, the Faculty of Science hosts a formal one-day conference to showcase research conducted by McGill undergraduate students. Departments nominate students who have done research to participate. The projects are presented as posters, and are judged by a panel of professors. First and second prizes are awarded in five categories: Biological Sciences, Earth System Science, Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Medical Sciences and Psychology, and Physical Sciences. The awards are presented at the end of the day, followed by a keynote speaker and a reception. More information can be found here: http://www.mcgill.ca/science/ours/urc/.

14.   TRAVEL REGISTRY

Students who will be traveling internationally (e.g. anywhere outside of Canada, including the United States) are now obligated to fill out a Travel Registry, even if the travel will only last for a day or two. This includes students doing field work, attending field school that will take place in the USA, or going on the Willy Trip.

In the case of field school or the Willy Trip, Anne or Kristy will automatically create the registry form for you if you registered for the course or are on the Willy Trip list. In the case of field work, have your supervisor send an email to either Anne or Kristy to request that a registry form be created for you. This email should include information on what type of activity you will be doing (e.g. research, field work, attending a conference, etc.), when it will take place, and the country in which you will be doing it.

Anne or Kristy will then send you an email notifying you that the form has been created, and you will also receive a notification when you sign into Minerva. The created form can be found under the Student Records menu in your Student menu on Minerva. You must then fill out all the mandatory fields in the form before leaving on your trip, and you will receive monthly email reminders through Minerva until the form has been successfully completed. If you need to change something later and find that you cannot do so because the form has been completed, contact Kristy or Anne to reopen up the form for you.

If you are going to be doing field work for a professor in a remote area of Canada it is suggested that you fill out a travel registry (so that we know where you are!). In this case you will not have the information needed for the Supplemental Health Insurance, as such things are not required in Canada. However, since the fields in that section are mandatory, just put in 0's.