THE PLANT PATH GRAD STUDENT HANDBOOK OR"EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PLANT PATHOLOGY AT CORNELL"

Compiled by the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Graduate Student Association, Cornell University

INTRODUCTIONThis handbook was compiled from suggestions and ideas provided by graduate students in the Field of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology. It is a lighthearted, but honest, summary of information we think you will find helpful. Read through it right away; some information may be useful to you immediately.

The Field of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology at Cornell University is comprised of numerous facilities and faculty members housed at several different locations spread across the Ithaca campus and other locations within New York State. The main body of the field is made of the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Geneva and Ithaca. Additionally, some faculty members are located at experiment stations in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island. Adjunct and Field faculty are also located at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (BTI), in other Cornell academic departments (such as Plant Biology), at the USDA research facility on the Cornell campus, and at other universities, as well as other locations internationally.

CHAPTER ONE: ARRIVAL AT CORNELLWhen you are accepted to Cornell you will be contacted by the New Student Committee, current grad students who are available to answer any questions you have about grad school life and can offer advice about preparing for your move to Ithaca. Once you arrive, some of the New Student Committee can show you around the section and help you adjust to your new surroundings as quickly as possible.

You are strongly encouraged to arrange housing before you arrive, as it will be difficult to find affordable housing right before the start of the fall semester. Housing is expensive! For example, in Ithaca, rent for a single bedroom apartment ranges from $600-800 and rent for a two bedroom apartment ranges from $750-950. Sharing a house with several other people usually costs about $300-500 per person and on-campus housing in one of the graduate dorms (Thurston Court and 13 South Ave. for example) is about the same. There are two apartment complexes operated by the university, Maplewood Apartments and Hasbrouck Apartments, and both have single and family units available but you must sign up early to get a room as space quickly runs out. The cost is approximately $750 for a single unit and this includes everything except parking, phone and cable. Cooperative houses (10-20 people in a house who usually dine together) range from $200-250. The Off-Campus Housing Office, (607) 255-2310 or by email ocho@cornell.edu, is very helpful if you are looking for housing off campus. Visit their website at http://dos.cornell.edu/dos/ocho/. You may also find the private business Housing Solutions (www.housingsolutions.com or (607) 272-6091), helpful in this area. The Ithaca craigslist is also a good source of apartment listings. Another website, www.ithacarents.com might also be helpful.

In Geneva there is some housing available at the experiment station. Students who plan to live in station housing are encouraged to request housing at least six months in advance of moving to Geneva, as there is usually a waiting list for these units. Other housing in Geneva is generally a bit less expensive than in Ithaca. Since all new students have course requirements in Ithaca, it is likely you will be living and taking classes in Ithaca for the first two years at Cornell, regardless of whether you choose to work in Ithaca or Geneva.

To assure that your funding is secure for the academic year, check in with the Graduate Field Assistatn (GFA) of the section. Please contact Alicia Caswell, (607)255-3245, with any questions or concerns..

When you arrive be sure to contact Alicia Caswell who is in charge of desk assignments. She will assign a desk for you in one of the graduate student offices in Ithaca. Be sure to ask for a key to your desk so that you can secure your possessions. Every grad student is guaranteed a desk. Also contact the IT specialists to ensure your laptop is protected and compatible with Cornell resources.

Before classes begin, the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section will hold an orientation session, during which you will be introduced to the section facilities, faculty, etc. A new student picnic will be held so that you can get to know the other new students and some of the veteran students. You will also register with the Graduate School during your first week, and have a prescriptive interview with some of the faculty to determine your course background and to discuss your research interests. These will be covered in subsequent chapters.

For additional information on general areas such as shopping, banking and entertainment in Ithaca please refer to Appendix 1.

CHAPTER TWO: University Registration (not to be confused with course registration):

All NEW graduate students must check in with the Graduate School table at Bartels Hall to pick up their Student Packets on Registration Day (after that day pick up Student Packets in 143 Caldwell Hall). It is during this time new graduate students will receive a packet containing the following: your student I.D. card (if you sent in the form and a picture during the summer), your parking permit--optional (if you already sent in the form during the summer), your Cornell User I.D./ Net ID (which is your initials followed by a number), and other miscellaneous information, some of which may indicate a hold on your registration (see below about what to do if this happens to you). Your Cornell I.D. card will also serve as a TCAT OmniRide bus pass, so that you receive free bus service for the first year of your Cornell studies. Several information booths will be set up during registration regarding various activities one of them being off-campus e-mail access. Take your time and explore.

Continuing Graduate Students at Cornell should check “Student Center” www.studentcenter.cornell.edu to see if you are registered with the university or if you have any "holds" preventing registration. Clear all holds through the office that placed the hold. Use “Student Center” to confirm holds have been cleared. Please note that completion of course pre-enrollment during the spring semester does not mean you are automatically registered with the university for the fall semester.

Summer registration is required by ALL students who will be receiving some sort of financial assistance during the summer. Summer registration, which is during the last three weeks of May, is required for use of the health center (Gannett) and other campus facilities. If you do not register for the summer, your paycheck will be deducted for FICA.

Tuition

If you have an assistantship or fellowship, you do not pay your tuition. However, you will still be expected to pay the university activity fee ($40.50 per semester). Check to make sure your tuition is paid on time, otherwise you might be assessed a late fee. You are not responsible for this fee; please notify Alicia Caswell, the Graduate Field Assistant (GF) if you notice a late fee.

Holds

Your funding hasn't cleared official channels. Foreign students should note that checks drawn on a non-US bank will take at least two weeks to clear. Try to arrange for its arrival at Cornell earlier or you will not be allowed to register. Late registration will cost you an additional $200.

A medical hold may be in effect if you have not provided evidence of having had various vaccinations (e.g. rubella, tuberculosis (BCG) and measles). The University takes this precaution because of recent epidemics at some colleges. Foreign students, in particular, may need to provide a chest X-ray. If you cannot provide this medical documentation, you will need to go to the health center and have the vaccinations done again.

If you have an outstanding balance on your Cornell Card, an on-campus credit card-like system, you will have to pay at registration in order to register. Accounts from the previous semester must be paid in full before you can register for the upcoming semester.

Course Registration

Graduate students can register for classes at any time during the first three weeks of classes. This allows you the opportunity of trying out a number of courses before committing yourself for the semester. Continuing graduate students at Cornell can pre- register for classes through the “Student Center” computer system during the last part of the previous semester, but registration does not begin until the week before classes start. Graduate students can also register for classes at any time during the first three weeks of classes. If you have pre-registered for classes but then decide to change the classes you are taking, you can add, drop and make changes to courses on-line through “Student Center” within the deadline dates. Only if a course requires instructor's permission will you usually need to fill out the paper add/drop form, but this depends on what your advisor has specified with the college. But it's probably a good idea to check with your advisor before making changes to your schedule anyway. If you have to fill out the paper add/drop form you will need signatures from your advisor (or the Director of Graduate Studies, Stewart Gray if you do not yet have a committee) and a representative of the department/section from which the course is offered (usually one of the administrative assistants for that department/section can do this).

NEW students who are entering in either the fall or spring semester can also register on-line. Usually your first semester class schedule will be determined at your prescriptive interview (see below). Nevertheless, all necessary information and forms are available at Graduate School located in Caldwell Hall.

Car Registration, Parking, and Public Transportation

All faculty, staff, and students MUST register their vehicles whether or not they buy a parking permit. Registration is not a parking permit and provides no parking privileges, but it does ensure that the owner or operator may be identified rapidly and contacted if necessary. If you want to park on campus during business hours without getting a ticket, you must buy a parking permit. PARKING IS EXPENSIVE!!! Parking permits for graduate and professional students can run from free to many hundreds of dollars depending on where you park. For more information on parking, contact Transportation Services at 116 Maple Ave., (607) 255-7275, or refer to their website, http://transportation.fs.cornell.edu/.

Because of the high price of parking, most graduate students either walk, bike, or take the bus to campus. Ithaca’s bus service is called Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT), and it provides service to many locations in the Ithaca area. Your first year as a graduate student you will be able to ride TCAT buses for free, by swiping your student ID card when you get on the bus. After your first year, you can purchase an OmniRide pass, which allows you unlimited bus use throughout the Ithaca Area. Visit them at www.tcatbus.com or through the Cornell transportation site.

CHAPTER THREE: FUNDING

Assistantships

If you were notified that you will receive a Research Assistantship through the section, you must be placed on the payroll. See Alicia Caswell, the Graduate Field Assistant for the Field of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology. Processing can take as long as one month and the sooner you sign in the sooner your checks will arrive. You will get paid on the 15th and 30th of every month via a check unless you sign up for direct deposit. To sign up for direct deposit, please visit this payroll website: http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/dfa/payrollservices/services/directdeposit.cfm. There you will find a “Payroll Direct Deposit form” and submission instructions. Those students whose funds are administered through the Graduate School must pick up their checks in Day Hall at the Bursar Office. International students with a J-1 visa should go to ISSO for an I-9 form if they are receiving department funding.

Some students prefer to arrive some time during the summer, and in some cases summer funding can be arranged. This can, by the way, be a good time to work on rotations (if you have opted for these, they are explained later in the Handbook). Contact the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Stewart Gray or the Graduate Field Assistant (GFA), Alicia Caswell, if you would like to arrive in Ithaca earlier but are concerned about summer funds.

Fellowships

Generally Cornell Fellowship funds are provided as lump sum at the beginning of each semester, rather than on a bi-weekly basis, as is the case with section Research Assistantships. Remember that taxes may not have been removed from the amount you receive and that you may have to put aside a significant amount for taxes, which you should submit quarterly. Even though you may be supported on departmental funds, you are generally encouraged to apply for prestigious fellowships or other external funding. The Graduate School maintains a fellowship database for such funding at https://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/fellowships.

Student Loans

First year graduate students are guaranteed funding and most students will be funded throughout their studies by assistantships. In general there are good resources on campus to avoid having to take out loans but, here are some resources in case other funding cannot be found.

Graduate School loans web page: https://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and-funding/loans.

Graduate students may apply for both federal and private educational loans. Federal loans are limited to those who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International students may be eligible to apply for

private loans with a U.S. co-signer. Federal loans are much easier to obtain for graduate students than for undergraduates. FAFSA is shorter and less detailed, and you no longer have to fill out information about your parent's income. You may be eligible for up to $8500 in subsidized loans, which earns no interest while in school, and even more in adjustable rate unsubsidized loans.

In general, private loans have interest rates higher than those of federal student loans and interest typically accrues from the date you take the loan. Four private loan agencies have web sites: CitiAssist · Grad Achiever · Grad Access · Nellie Mae Excel

Vacations and Time Off – since we are talking about funding we may as well mention time expectations. As Graduate Students you are employees of the University and no longer just students. As such, you do not live by the academic calendar and therefore undergraduate vacations, e.g. fall break, winter break, spring break, etc. do not apply. You will find yourself working all hours, day, night, weekdays, weekends, holidays, because science experiments do not always fit into the normal 9-5 M-F work week. Having said that, the faculty do not expect Graduate students to work non-stop without breaks, in fact, the faculty encourage graduate students to have a life outside of the lab and classroom. Breaks and vacations are healthy and quite frankly required. The guidelines for grad student vacations include 3 weeks of vacation per year. In addition, students, as University employees, can observe all formal University holidays that the normal staff observe. You must discuss vacation plans with your major advisor – and please give them a couple weeks’ notice – and please inform the main office that you will be away. Vacation time does not roll over from year to year.

Changing Advisors: Some Warnings

In some cases a student may decide to change programs after initiating a project with one professor. Switching programs may have some consequences for your funding, mainly because of funding splits. Because some aspects of PPPMB-Ithaca, PPPMB-Geneva (Agricultural Research Station), and the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (BTI) funds and accounts are distinct this may affect your choices. If you are working with a professor in Ithaca and your funding comes from Cornell-Ithaca, changing to another Ithaca-based professor is easier if you wish to change programs. Likewise, if you begin in Geneva or at BTI, you may have to switch to a program within those locations. For a student from Geneva to come to Ithaca, new funds must be allocated from Ithaca's program. The allocation MAY be possible IF funds are available, or if your new advisor is able to provide your funding from his/her own program. It might be best to talk with the person to whose program you would like to change, since the move may be contingent on funding. You should also talk with Dr. Gary Bergstrom the Section Chair in or Dr. Marc Fuchs the Program Leader for Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology.

Traveling to Professional Meetings

The section will usually provide one car, including gas, for every four students wishing to attend a national or regional professional society meeting, whether they are presenting a paper or not. Some meetings provide travel grants on a competitive basis. For example, The American Phytopathological Society (APS) provides a minimum of 20 travel grants of $400 each for students who plan to present posters or talks at the national meeting (http://www.apsnet.org/members/foundation/apply/Pages/StudentTravelAwards.aspx).

The Graduate School administers Conference Travel Grants and Research Travel Grants, more information on this can be found at the following websites.

Conference Travel Grant - https://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and-funding/conference-travel-grant

Research Tracel Grants - https://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and-funding/research-travel-grants

CHAPTER FOUR: PROGRAM OF STUDY

Thesis Projects

If you have a specific project in mind when you arrive, chances are good that you'll be able to work on that project or on a similar one. Most of the faculty are very interested in what interests you. If your goals are unclear now, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Stewart Gray or your major professor may guide you into a project, but the final choice is yours.

Special Committees

Since the Special Committee plays such an important role in the life of graduate students at Cornell, the following suggestions were offered by some current and past graduate students on what to consider when choosing your special committee:

Take your time in selecting a committee (you have at least 2 semesters to do so), and seek out the advice of other students who work with or have worked with professors that you are considering for your committee. You will want to be sure that potential committee members are willing and able to provide ideas, time, MONEY (for equipment and travel), supplies, and greenhouse and/or growth chamber space. Also, make sure you know what their expectations of YOU will be. Good rapport, with both your advisor and research group is a must! Until you form a committee, or at least a chairperson, Stewart Gray, Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will sign the required forms, and he will be happy to talk with you about possible research programs and committee members.

You are expected to meet with your committee regularly to update them on your accomplishments and research progress, although this also varies based on your committee. You must meet with your committee at least once a year and document this by filling out the Self-Evaluation Form. Your Special Committee Chair will need to fill out part of this form and all committee members must sign it. Each committee member will also need to complete a Student Evaluation Form. All forms can be found at http://pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/graduate/forms. Your first full committee meeting should occur by the end of your second semester. Because professors have notoriously bad memories for details of their student's projects, giving an outline of your accomplishments and projections of the next six months or so to your Special Committee will be helpful for all of you. Regular meetings also give you the opportunity to identify idiosyncratic members of your committee in advance of exam time. A special warning in case you have problems with your committee: NEVER discharge your committee chairperson from your committee BEFORE you have found another professor willing to serve as your new committee chairperson! Once you have formed a committee, your tenure as a graduate student is dependent on its continued existence. That is, if it falls apart and you are not able to reconstitute it within a certain period of time, you will be discharged from the graduate school.

Minors

You must choose minor fields of study, with corresponding minor members for your Special Committee. One minor is required for M.S. students. Two minors are required for M.S. /Ph.D. or Ph.D. students. Some typical minors for graduates in Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology (PPPMB) include biochemistry, statistics, computational biology, horticulture, plant molecular biology, genomics, genetics, microbiology, mycology, plant breeding, international agriculture, and crop and soil science.

Course requirements for these programs vary. Go to the department/section in which you want to minor and ask if they have a list of requirements. If there is no list, your minor committee members can suggest courses. Ultimately, your minor advisors determine if you have fulfilled your minor requirements. It is wise to have your committee members list required courses in writing to avoid misunderstandings.

Rotations

Rotations may be available to students depending on their funding source. If your first year of your PhD program is funded by a fellowship or other funds not tied to a specific faculty program you may be allowed to rotate in 2-3 different programs to give you the chance to try out a research program before signing on. Changes in the availability of funding sources have decreased rotation opportunities in recent years since more and more students will be funded by specific research programs rather than by section funds. An opportunity to rotate in other labs may be funded by your major professor if it would be of mutual benefit and you should ask about these possibilities.

Students should work with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and appropriate faculty members to develop 6-8 week rotation projects. This will allow rotating students to complete 2-3 rotations by the end of January of their first year. The section would like to see all students assigned to a faculty research program by the start of the 2nd semester of residence and a full committee formed and research project established by the end of that 2nd semester. Remember that rotations are largely the students responsibility, so do not be afraid to assert yourself if you felt you have done what you need to do for the rotation. Often the project is not finished, but it is not necessary for you to stay in the lab longer, even if the professor says so.

The professor leading each lab/program may suggest a small project for you to carry out during your rotation or you might work with more senior students, postdocs, or technicians to give you an introduction to the program. The project should be one that can be completed within the time limit of the rotation (although this is not always true). If you're not sure what you want to do at Cornell, consult with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Stewart Gray, to arrange a rotation in research programs complementary to your interest.

A note of caution about rotations: It is the student’s responsibility to identify and be accepted into a research program that can support them after their rotations, ideally by the start of the 2nd semester but no later than the end of that semester.

CHAPTER FIVE: ENTRANCE INTERVIEW AND EXAMS

Prescriptive Interview

You will have this interview soon after your arrival and BEFORE the first week of classes of your first semester at Cornell (if possible). The interview is designed to determine if you have deficiencies in your background that would require you to take particular courses. A committee, consisting of 3 faculty members (including your major professor if you have chosen one), will discuss your research experience

and educational background. The interview committee will ask if you have any preferences for the kind of research you would like to do while at Cornell and will recommend some courses for you to take during your first (and possibly second) semester at Cornell. However, feel free to discuss their suggestions with other students and faculty, especially if you're not sure if a particular course is right for you. This interview is not meant to be intimidating, just to guide you as you begin at Cornell.

The A Exam

The A exam is also known as the Examination for Admission to Candidacy. This oral exam may include a written component, as determined by your Special Committee. You can take the exam after completing two registration units in your program, but before beginning your seventh semester—unless special permission is obtained from the dean.

You must pass this exam in order to become a "Ph.D. candidate" and continue with your program.

Besides your Special Committee, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will appoint two additional PPPMB Field members who are not connected with your program to the examining committee (for breadth), giving a total of at least five examiners. You and your major advisor should make suggestions for who you want these additional appointed members to be to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). It is possible to fail this exam, but this doesn't happen often. You will want to review everything that may be even remotely related to plant pathology and your specialization in plant pathology before you take this exam. Talk to all committee members and appointed members before the exam to get an idea of their expectations. Some faculty will even tell you the types of questions they routinely ask. Talk to other students for advice on strategies. The exam will be challenging. You are expected to be a conversant, analytical "scientist", but you will probably not be able to answer every question. There is variation in the format of each student's A exam depending on their Special Committee. The purpose of the exam is to determine the limits of your understanding and knowledge. Be prepared to give an oral summary of what research you have been doing to fill in the examiners who are not part of your committee. Bring a written list of course work completed. To top it all off, you should bring beverages (coffee, tea or juice, etc.) and some sweet snacks.

You must submit a completed and signed Schedule of Examination form (http://gradschool.cornell.edu/sites/gradschool.cornell.edu/files/field_file/Schedule%20A%20Exam%203_21_13.pdf) to the Graduate School at least 7 business days prior to the exam. Failure to do so may result in the results of the exam being negated and you do NOT want to take the A exam twice if it is not necessary. Following the exam you have 3 business days to submit the A Exam Results form http://gradschool.cornell.edu/sites/gradschool.cornell.edu/files/field_file/A%20results_instructions_compliance_6_14_13.pdf.

The B Exam

The B exam is an oral defense of your thesis or dissertation. This exam can be taken after completing all degree requirements, but not earlier than one month before completing the minimum registration unit requirements. At least two registration units must be earned between the passing of the A exam and the scheduling of the B exam.Similar to the A exam, you must submit a completed and signed Schedule of Examination form https://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/sites/gradschool.cornell.edu/files/field_file/Schedule%20of

%20Examination%20for%20B%20Exam_51914.pdf to the Graduate School at least 7 business days prior to the exam. Failure to do so may result in the results of the exam being negated. Following the exam you have 3 business days to submit the B Exam Results Form https://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/sites/gradschool.cornell.edu/files/field_file/B%20Exam%20Results%20and%20Instructions%207_12_13.pdf.

CHAPTER SIX: COURSES

The specific courses you'll take will depend on your interest, your previous experience, the guidelines for the concentration that you are pursuing, and your special committee's desires. However, you can probably expect to take one or more of the following:

PLPA 6810 / PLPA 6811 Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Seminar, 1 credit Fall/SpringThe Ithaca Section Seminar (PLPA 6810) meets on Wednesdays 12:20 - 1:25 pm, the Geneva Section Seminar (PLPA 6811) meets on Tuesdays at 3:30. You will be expected to take at least six semesters for credit, either Ithaca or Geneva. You must also sign in for proof of attendance. You are required to attend or watch over Polycom 75% of the seminars before losing credit for the course. Incentives for the course are the coffee and tea available just before seminars. Also, each student is generally expected to present one seminar during his/her program, but your committee members dictate the actual requirements.

PLPA 6820 Graduate Student Research Seminar, 1 credit Fall/SpringThis is a required course for Plant Pathology graduate students each semester they are registered for classes. All second year students and senior must present a 40 minute talk on their research once per year.

PLPA 3010 Biology & Management of Plant Diseases, 4 credits FallThis has historically been the cornerstone course for the section, providing both breadth and depth for graduate students new to or minoring in plant pathology. It is generally taken in the first semester of grad school by all incoming students who have not previously taken an introductory plant pathology course.

PLPA 4010 Microbial Pathogens vs. Plants: Molecular Weapons, Defenses, and Rules of Engagement, 3 credits SpringThis course is expected to provide you with an understanding of the interactions between plants and the major groups of plant pathogens on the molecular to organismal level. It is generally taken in the second semester of grad school by all incoming students.

PLPA 4020 Biology of Plant Pathogens, 3 credits SpringThis course explores the biology and ecology of major groups of plant pathogens and addresses concepts of plant disease, etiology, microbial communities, virulence, resistance, population biology, and epidemiology. It is generally taken in the second semester of grad school by all incoming students.

Sadistics (Ooops... Statistics!)Many graduate students in applied areas take Biometry 6010 and perhaps 6020, which are both taught with the statistical software “JMP.” These will give you a solid foundation in statistical analysis. Expect to put a fair amount of time into these courses, as they have weekly (lengthy) homework assignments. Note: BTRY 6020 has some valuable experimental design topics that might be nice to have in mind as early as possible for your research. There are other introductory statistics courses offered at Cornell that have not traditionally been taken by Plant Pathology students but may be worth looking into (Ex. BTRY 3010/ 3020). If you are interested consult with you advisor and/or Stewart Gray.

Students should also sign up for Research Credits. PLPA 8900 (Master’s Level), 9900 (Doctoral Level)as appropriate. Students that are teaching assistant should sign up for PLPA 7980, and students in a formal rotation program should sign up for PLPA7970 as appropriate.

CHAPTER SEVEN: TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS AND THE TEACHING REQUIREMENT

The section requires that each student teach one semester to get a M.S. and two semesters for a M.S. /Ph.D. or a Ph.D. The main incentive to be a teaching assistant (TA) is that it offers students a chance to get some teaching experience.

The section offers a limited number of Teaching Assistantships each year. The TA positions are filled through joint collaboration between the faculty advisors, Section Administrative Manager and the Section Chair. TA’s are paid in the same way that Graduate Research Assistants are paid, but expected to contribute up to 20 hours per week of their time to the teaching mission of the section. Insurance and tuition are included in this type of support.

There are some students who have been supported for a few semesters through a TA-ship from another department such as the Biology department. In this case you would be paid to teach undergraduate general biology labs. These TA-ships are A LOT of work and are usually only required when your major advisor cannot fund you.

The Cornell Center for Teaching Excellence offers several Graduate Teaching Development Workshops each year to help develop TA skills. These workshops are typically an all-day Saturday event and are highly recommended by students who have participated in them. In addition, the Center for Teaching Excellence hosts a regular seminar series which may be helpful. More information can be found at http://www.cte.cornell.edu/

Graduate students can also become involved in the John S. Knight Writing Program, which offers a chance for students to TA courses on teaching writing. There are stipends available. (http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/teachingsupport/ta.htm). There are also scholarships available for students interested in designing and teaching their own freshman writing seminar. This is a great experience for your teaching portfolio since you are officially considered an “instructor” and not a TA. (http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/publicationsprizes/publicationsandprizes.html).

CHAPTER SEVEN AND A HALF: RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

Most research assistantships are funded through well-established large grants to the PI of the lab you have joined. This is a great place to start, however, if you have a specific direction that you want to take a project in, or ideas for a new project, it’s good to be proactive about generating even small amounts of funding. Stewart Gray (Director of Graduate Studies) encourages all students to do what they can to contribute to funding their own projects. This is partly a byproduct of the current economic times, but many academic positions that you’ll apply to require “a demonstrated ability to generate funding for research” i.e. successful grant writing. Co-authoring a grant proposal with one or more of your committee members and/or authoring a student proposal looks great on your CV. Here are some resources for getting started:

Funding databases

http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/fellowships (for students)

http://www.research.cornell.edu/Funding/ (to apply with your PI)

Student fellowships and research support

Big and hard to get (but worth a try for 3 years of support!)NSF GRFP www.nsf.gov/grfp

Regional – more accessibleNESARE grad student research grant http://www.nesare.org/content/search?SubTreeArray=295%2C2003%2C4528&SearchText=grants+for+graduate+students&x=0&y=0.

In house – more accessiblehttps://cals.cornell.edu/academics/student-research/graduate-grants-proposal.

Ideas to run by your committee Only post docs and professors can be PIs on state and federal grants, but you can co-author a proposal. Don’t be shy to bring in other potential collaborators, just remember you have to make sure they all get along to have a successful project!

Hatch – CALS in house state-line startup funds for new projects (ask your advisor)NYSTAR CAT in house matching funds for industry university partnerships

CHAPTER EIGHT: FACILITIES Lab Space

The amount of space available to you depends on who your major professor is, and how much space that person has in his/her lab. Some professors have very crowded labs. This may be an item to consider when choosing your professor!

Greenhouse SpaceIn Ithaca, you must fill out an on-line space request form (http://greenhouses.cals.cornell.edu/).Greenhouse services include watering, fertilizing, pesticide applications, general housekeeping, and greenhouse supplies. The greenhouse consortium manages a staff 24hrs/day, 365 days/year and help is just a phone call away if no one is in the greenhouse when you have questions about how to use the facilities. If you are renting a growth chamber, however, you will need to do these duties yourself. Weekly pesticide applications are usually done on Fridays, but applications may be made on other days. However, the greenhouse staff may send you an email the day before to let you know so that you can plan accordingly. Some professors have their own space allotment already, and your professor just might share it with you. Don't be afraid to make temporary deals, if necessary, with those who have space. Most of the greenhouse space available to members of the Ithaca Section is located in the Virology/Nematology and Dimock facilities, which you will see during your orientation.

In Geneva, each professor's program is allocated greenhouse space, and each program is responsible for its own greenhouse space maintenance. Again, contact your major professor to make the necessary arrangements. Pesticide applications, fertilization, and other operations are usually handled on an individual need basis.

Other EquipmentMost professors are generous in allowing students not in their program to use some of their equipment - providing the professor is not using it at that time. Be courteous; ask, don't take. Get to know who can help you.

StatisticsStatisticians are available for free consultation in the Statistical Consulting Unit (https://www.cscu.cornell.edu/index.php). If you want to discuss your design with a plant pathologist, in Ithaca, Michael Milgroom is a faculty expert on statistical design and analysis. In Geneva, Bob Seem is Mr. Stat. They are very willing to help you, but remember: you should see them or another statistician BEFORE (this can't be stressed enough!) you conduct your experiments if you have any concerns about the statistical validity of your experimental design.

ComputersMany of the research labs are equipped with computers, which may be available to students working in those programs. Workshops and a mini-course are held on campus to familiarize you with the systems available to you. You can find information at http://www.cit.cornell.edu/training/. The Geneva section also has a number of computer facilities located in Barton Hall. The main facility is located in the Library on the first floor of Barton Hall. Research labs in Geneva generally have computers and there are a few additional computers available in the Lee Library located in Jordan Hall in Geneva.

As a graduate student, you have access to computer support through the Plant Science Information Technology group located in Rice Hall. They work on machines whose primary use is for Cornell-related work.

If you have a personal computer you wish to use on the wired network here, they ask that you bring it to their office (for laptops) or inform them of its location (for desktops). They will spend some time making sure that the computer is patched up to date, that it has antivirus software, and setting up needed printers and lab servers. This can take several hours, depending on the state of the computer. Until they have done this, you will be unable to connect to the wired network.To log on to section computers and file servers, you will need a CALSNET (college-level) username and password. These are requested by the section or lab PI. Once requested, you will need to stop by the IT office to set your password. While they do not mind walk-in visits or phone calls, the best way to put in a help request is to use the web site at: http://peit.cals.cornell.edu/.

For information on getting Internet at home, go to CIT at the Computing and Communications Center (http://www.cit.cornell.edu/computer/connect) or see Appendix 1 for a list of providers.

CHAPTER NINE: THE GENEVA EXPERIMENT STATION: A SPECIAL SITUATION

Although nearly all of your course work will be completed on the main campus in Ithaca, students who choose to do their research with a professor in Geneva are in a unique situation. The Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section at Geneva is situated at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, a large facility that also houses departments/section of EntomologyHorticultural, as well as the Plant Genetic Resource Unit.

Students with advisors at the Experiment Station in Geneva will be doing most of their thesis research in Geneva. The research facilities are modern and well equipped with extensive greenhouse space. Another perk is abundance of field sites within just a few miles of the laboratories. The station has several vineyards, orchards, and vegetable crop fields, and has close ties to nearby commercial growers for additional research sites. The library system is very good and readily accessible.

Doing research at Geneva is a unique situation. Because you need to spend at least your first year in Ithaca in order to take classes, doing research may be difficult. (But then, heavy class loads give Ithaca-based students the same challenge). Geneva students often load up on classes for the first few years, researching during the summer, before being able to research full time at the Station. If you are leaning towards a Geneva program it might be useful to spend part of the summer before your first semester of classes in Geneva. That way you can be introduced to your major professors program and have an opportunity to being to develop your research program and proposal. If you are able to do rotations this may be an opportunity to get started. You won't have much time to visit once the first semester gets going.

Students doing research in Geneva will quickly become familiar with the way things are done. Greenhouse space is assigned on a permanent basis to a professor's program. It is possible to negotiate additional space to meet experimental needs. Growth chambers are assigned on an experiment to experiment basis. Sharing of equipment is common and routine.

Ithaca lab or greenhouse facilities may be made available for Geneva-based students to do some research during the first few semesters that a student is taking classes in Ithaca; discuss your research plans with your advisor to determine if this is feasible. After the first year or two, students often move to Geneva and drive to Ithaca a few times each week if necessary to finish remaining course requirements. Alternatively, students can live in Ithaca and commute to Geneva each day.

A free shuttle runs between Ithaca and Geneva every day that the university is open. The trip takes approximately one hour in each direction and two round trips are made each day. To go to Geneva from Ithaca, the commuter van meets at 7:00am in front of Roberts Hall, and 7:15am at Cass Park, just North of Ithaca, to pick up students. The shuttle leaves Geneva around 8:30am and departs Ithaca (Roberts Hall) around 3:30pm for the return trip to Geneva, then leaves Geneva at 5:00pm for the return to Ithaca. This schedule runs Monday through Thursday, and on Fridays the shuttle departs Roberts Hall around 2:30pm and departs Geneva at 4pm. For more information see http://nysaes.cals.cornell.edu/sites/nysaes.cals.cornell.edu/files/shared/documents/Ithaca-GenevaBus_MailSchedule.pdf. If students living in Geneva wish to take a class that does not fit this schedule, a vehicle is also available For more information see the SAGES (Student Association of the Geneva Experiment Station) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sagesnysaes

ParkingUnlike the campus in Ithaca, parking is FREE in Geneva and access to facilities is convenient. There are no station dining facilities, but area restaurants or your own kitchen are nearby. A favorite lunch spot

(during the academic year) is the Scandling Center, the dining facility for Hobart and William Smith Colleges, a small liberal arts college in town. Station employees and students have access to the faculty dining area at the Scandling Center which has excellent food, all-you-can eat for only $6.00, including the famous Scandling Center Dessert Cart.

Desk spaceGraduate student desks at Geneva are located on the first floor of Barton Lab in either of the two graduate student offices. Phone service, internet connections, and adequate shelving and filing space are supplied. To place a phone call to the Geneva Experiment Station from Ithaca, dial 49 and the last three digits of the phone number. To place a call from Geneva to Ithaca, dial 8 and the last five digits of the phone number. If the call is off campus in Ithaca, dial 8-8 and the full seven digit phone number.

Geneva students can take PLPA 6811, the Geneva Plant Pathology Seminar, for credit in Geneva, alleviating the need to travel to Ithaca to fulfill the seminar requirement or PLPA 6810 in Ithaca in person or over Polycom. Students also participate in informal journal clubs that are organized based on the interest of students. The topics change regularly and participation is lively. The other three sections/departments in Geneva also offer weekly seminar series, many of which are of interest to plant pathology students. New video conference technology is available for watching certain seminars and other talks on-line. In Ithaca, the Seminar Committee has video conference equipment that can be linked on-line to a meeting room at the Station. Ithaca seminars can thus be broadcast to Geneva if arrangements are made ahead of time.

RecreationGeneva ("Lake Trout Capital of the World") is a smaller town than Ithaca, and does not have the same “university town” feeling that Ithaca has, but there is still quite a bit going on. Hobart and William Smith Colleges bring in cultural events such as concerts, festivals, and art films. Geneva also has three movie theaters, including the Smith Opera House, which brings in art/independent films and live music. There is a city park and a state park along the beautiful lakeshore, and there are several weekend festivals throughout the summer including the Geneva Whale Watch with food, games, live music, and fireworks. In addition, there are many Station-associated activities to keep students busy outside of work.

SAGES (Student Association of the Geneva Experiment Station) is a group coordinating activities for all graduate students at the Station (https://www.facebook.com/sagesnysaes). With between 25 and 90 graduate students at the Station at any time, the community is small enough that you can get to know many students from other departments through a wide range of SAGES-sponsored activities. These include welcome picnics, volleyball tournaments, themed cook-offs (examples: pumpkin and apple, chocolate), international junk food night, a community garden, making applesauce (a fundraiser for a scholarship given by SAGES to a local high school student interested in some agricultural science), movie nights, and more. The group is also instrumental in advocating student interests and needs, including organizing transportation from Geneva for classes in Ithaca and making sure students have accurate information about receiving medical care in Geneva with grad student health insurance. SAGES is always interested in how it can better serve the needs and interests of Geneva students.In the summer there is a recreational Station softball league, volleyball games, and soccer pick-up games. Geneva students also have free access to the fitness center at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The modern fitness center has an indoor track, volleyball and tennis courts, and weight room. There is also a local YMCA and several private athletic clubs.

Housing

Station-owned housing is available for graduate students to rent, located within just a block or two from the laboratory buildings. Prices as of 2001 are: $375/month + utilities for a single bedroom apartment, $255/month for a room in a 4-bedroom house with shared kitchen, living room, and bath. For students or others with families there are entire houses available to rent at $560/month + utilities (unfurnished) and $595/month + (furnished). There is a waiting list for station housing so sign up with the coordinator, Charene Hibbard at cah3@cornell.edu, far in advance if you wish to live at a station house. If demand is high there is a time limit on how long a person can remain in Station Housing, around 14 months. After that people are expected to locate other housing. If demand is low, these time limits might be relaxed. There are other housing options in Geneva as well, but decent places sometimes can be hard to find. The best method is often to send an email to all Station employees that you are looking for housing, and by word-of-mouth they'll offer suggestions on apartments, rooms to rent, or houses to share. The Geneva new student coordinator can help, too.

CHAPTER TEN: THE PLANT PATHOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

MembershipAs a graduate student in Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology at Cornell, whether you are based in Ithaca or Geneva, you are automatically a member of the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Graduate Student Association, affectionately known as the GSA. This organization exists to "represent and promote the professional activities of graduate students and to facilitate communication among graduate students and between graduate students and faculty of the Field of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology at Cornell University", as stated in the GSA constitution. The GSA also serves as a grievance board for the students and is actively involved in improving the conditions for graduate study in the section. The GSA is "governed" by five individually elected members (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Representative to the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)) and several committees (Social, Colloquium, Fundraising, Chili Cook-off, Prospective Student, and New Student). Elections for GSA members occur early in the fall semester. Each member is eligible for re-election.

GSA meetingsThese are usually held once each semester to discuss a wide variety of issues that affect graduate students (munchies are provided). You are strongly urged to attend these meetings, especially if you want to have input in departmental activities.

ActivitiesVarious activities are sponsored by the GSA or in conjunction with the section throughout the semester. Past activities have included movie nights, game nights, ski trips, potlucks, student vs. faculty/staff softball and bowling and weekly coffee breaks. We are always open to suggestions about new and fun things to do so be sure to show up for the GSA meetings with lots of ideas.

ColloquiumSome spring semesters the graduate students nominate, vote and invite a speaker to present a special seminar on some aspect relating to Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology. This event is entirely organized by the GSA and is usually a great success. Members of the department meet with the speaker individually or in small groups. Often, we have a potluck or BBQ dinner to which all department members are invited.

Officer Descriptions (according to our constitution and personal experience)President:

Serves as the main GSA contact for students and faculty. Schedules and facilitates discussion at GSA meetings. Registers the GSA with the Student Activities Office (http://www.sao.cornell.edu/so/). Encourages involvement in GSA and its associated activities as well as delegating responsibility to other members.

Vice-President: Works together with the President and the Treasurer to: Plan and submit the annual budget Organize graduate student meetings on a regular basis (or as needs arise) Contact faculty or others to address concerns of the plant pathology graduate students. Keep in touch with other student committee members, like the colloquium and social committee members, to ensure that members are serving in their roles and keeping deadlines, etc.

Secretary:Records minutes at the meetings and submits them for the minute's webpage. Conducts elections and correspondence designated by the GSC.

Treasurer: Records all financial transactions. Coordinates all funds and fund-raising activities of the GSA. Assists the Colloquium committee in preparing and submitting a colloquium budget to the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Finance Commission (GPSAFC) and keeping track of cash flow before, during and after the Colloquium. Is also a member of the colloquium committee.

Prospective Student Committee:Inform Plant Pathology graduate students of dates when prospective students will be visiting (as advised by the Director of Graduate Studies, Stewart Gray). Coordinate lunch and informal group meetings between the prospective students and the graduate students and/or faculty in the section (individual meetings between faculty and prospective students is arranged by the Director of Graduate Studies).NOTE: Prospective students may come any time and may come individually or as a large group in the spring, so the coordinators need to be prepared to spend anywhere from a day to a week planning, transporting prospective, escorting, mentoring, etc..

New Student Coordinating Committee:Works with the DGS to organize an orientation program for incoming students each semester (this includes orienting the students to the facilities and faculty both in Ithaca and Geneva, scheduling social events such as an ice cream social, the New Student BBQ, and making sure all students register with the graduate school).

The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) Representative:Represents the Plant Pathology GSA at the GPSA meetings by voicing the concerns, suggestions and questions of the GSA. Keeps the GSA informed of the activities of the GPSA.

Colloquium Committee:Consists of any number of people to help write a ballot, conduct the election, formally invite the speaker and make travel and accommodation arrangements. If the speaker is able and willing they will give a seminar in Ithaca and Geneva requiring people at both campuses to help schedule and post the seminar time and place (in the department as well as a Cornell newspaper), provide refreshments at the seminar and schedule individual meetings between faculty and the visiting scientist. Finally, a departmental dinner reception is held in Ithaca that could be as simple to plan as a potluck or as involved as having to reserve a place and coordinate with a caterer.

Geneva Coordinator(s) (GC):Serves as a link between Geneva and Ithaca based graduate students.Communicates the concerns of Geneva students to the GSA, transfers information and concerns of Ithaca students to those in Geneva. Coordinates activities that facilitate interaction between Geneva and Ithaca students.

Section CommitteesAlthough serving on a committee within the section is not required of students, you may be asked to serve on one at some time during your career at Cornell. Examples of committees on which students have served are the Teaching Committee, the Computer Committee, the Greenhouse Committee, and the Seminar Committee etc. These are small groups of faculty, students, and staff, which get together as often as it takes to make the section function in these particular areas. As a student you may have a valid contribution to make in these areas, and you are certainly urged to get involved. If you are interested in joining a committee talk to the GSA chairperson to find out how.

CHAPTER 11: Getting Help and Graduate Student Forms

Alicia Caswell (334 Plant Science) serves as the Chairs’ Assistant and Graduate Field Assistant for Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe BiologyStewart Gray (307 Plant Science) serves as the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).

Both Alicia and Stewart can help with all graduate student issues and they should be consulted whenever questions arise. For any assistance with financial matters, please contact Tracy Holdridge (330 Plant Science). Kerik Cox is the Assistant DGS and can also help and sign forms.

As you proceed through your graduate program, there are a number of forms that you'll need to submit to the graduate school in a timely manner. These forms generally require signatures of your special committee chair and the DGS.

Below is a checklist of forms that need to be signed by the DGS. These forms must be on Stewart Gray’s desk at least 3 days before they are due at the Graduate School. In the event that he is not in, please drop off all forms to be signed in Alicia Caswell’s office. She will give them to Stewart to sign and then put the signed form in your mailbox. Kerik Cox can sign forms for students in Geneva. If you put things in Stewart’s mailbox be sure to email him and let them know they are there as he may not check the box for days at a time. DO NOT GIVE FORMS TO ANY ONE OTHER THEN ALICIA. If Alicia is not in her office please place the form on her desk. If the office is locked place the form in her mailbox. This should not be a problem if the forms are dropped off 3 days before they are due. Forms submitted at the last minute may not be signed in time for submission to the graduate school.

Special Committee Selection and Change FormsMake sure Alicia has a copy of this form once all signatures are obtained and before it goes to the graduate school. Only the signature of the student and DGS will be required on the Special Committee form for NEW students. The name of the special committee chair or temporary advisor should be PRINTED on the form. If a student has a Committee Nomination letter from the Graduate School with a date the Special Committee Selection and Change form has to be completed to avoid a "hold" being placed on university registration, the form must be in Alicia's office 3 days prior to the date it needs to be at the graduate school (we have a copy of this letter - so we know when it is due).

In Absentia PetitionIn Absentia forms should be submitted three weeks prior to first day of classes. Registered in Absentia is full-time student status. There is a tuition charge of $200, which should be paid at the Bursar Office before submitting the in absentia petition to Caldwell Hall.

Leave of Absence/WithdrawalLeave of Absence forms should be submitted as soon as student knows that university registration is not needed while they complete their degree. Leave of Absence can be approved for up to 12 months at a time. The maximum number of total years allowed is 4. If student have to extend their status while on leave, they can submit another Leave of Absence form.

General PetitionIf you have received a letter from the graduate school stating that you need to complete a petition form by a certain date in order to be permitted to register for the next semester, please have your form in Alicia's office 3 days before it is required at the graduate school. We also have copies of these letters and know when the due date is.

Request for Transfer of Registration UnitsApplication for Change of Status or Readmission No DGS signature required. Please give Jackie a copy of this form before it goes to the graduate school.

Schedule of ExaminationDue at the graduate school 7 days before the exam is to take place. These means it needs to be on Alicia's desk 10 days before the exam. Make sure she has a copy of this form once all signatures are obtained and before it goes to the graduate school.

Results of ExaminationDGS does not need to sign this form, but a copy should be given to Alicia after all signatures are obtained and before it goes to the graduate school. This needs to be done within 3 business days of the exam.

Designation of Proxy for Examinations/Thesis ApprovalThis form does not need to be signed by the DGS. When it is agreed that an individual is designated to serve as a proxy, the regular committee member must inform both the DGS and the graduate school of the agreement.

Annual Self-Assessment:This form (found on our website) should be filled out by the student and handed out to all members of their special committee prior to the required annual committee meeting. This can serve as an outline of the meeting. The major advisor will need to complete their assessment of the information and the student’s progress and all of the material on the form must be review and accepted by all members of the Special Committee. Their signatures will serve as proof of their acceptance of the information. A copy of the completed form should be hand-delivered to Stewart Gray and Alicia Caswell. This form is meant to be an annual check of the student’s progress as well as confirmation by all members of the committee that the student is progressing satisfactorily. Any concerns or problems raised by the student or any member of the committee should be documented on the form.

Other Forms that may be needed by some students:Change of Status or ReadmissionCourse Enrollment Petition

CONCLUSIONWell, that's about everything! It is probably more than you can handle at once, but keep this as a reference manual for the future. If you have any questions, first ask other students, Stewart Gray (Director of Graduate Studies), Bill Fry (Chair, Ithaca) or Wayne Wilcox (Associate Chair, Geneva). Everyone is willing to help. GOOD LUCK!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 1: Taken from ISSO’s Cornell and Ithaca Resources, a Practical Guide.

Start exploring Ithaca! These pages provide but a sample of the wide array of local businesses and services.

ServicesBankingThe following is a glossary of banking terms as well as a list of banks that can be found on campus and around Ithaca. When choosing a bank, consider its location. Before visiting to open an account, call the bank or check its web site to see what you will need to open an account (ID, minimum deposit, etc.)

Banks (in alphabetical order)

• Alternatives Federal Credit Union (http://www.alternatives.org/) 125 N Fulton St, (607) 273-461• Bank of America (http://www.bankofamerica.com) 202 E State St (The Commons), (607) 274-4860 • CFCU Community Credit Union* (https://www.mycfcu.com/). The Cornell Store, (607) 255-5111

• Citizens Bank ( http://www.citizensbank.com/ ) 2300 N Triphammer Rd, (607) 257-3322 other locations: 710 S Meadow St; 408 Elmira Rd• HSBC Bank* (http://www.us.hsbc.com) 300 N Tioga St, 1 (800) 975-4722Other locations: Willard Straight Hall (ATM); 302 Pine Tree Rd; 2315 N Triphammer Rd• M&T Bank* (http://www.mandtbank.com) 118 N Tioga St, (607) 274-8948Other locations: Willard Straight Hall (ATM); Robert Purcell Union (ATM); 406 College Ave; East Hill Plaza; The Shops at Ithaca Mall; The Commons• Tompkins Trust Company* (http://www.tompkinstrust.com) The Cornell Store, (607) 257-1909Other locations: The Commons; East Hill Plaza; Community Corners; The Shops at Ithaca Mall; 2251 N Triphammer Rd * indicates campus branch or ATM

Haircut, Barber and Salon Services• Acute Style, 147 Dryden Rd, (607) 277-4969• Alta Spa, 308 E State St, (607) 233-4960• Gayle’s Uptown Salon, 206 W Green St, (607) 273-6461• Hairy Canary Clip Joint, 116 N Cayuga St, (607) 273-2221• Renaissance Hair Styles, 210 Dryden Rd, (607) 273-1337• Satori Day Spa & Salon, 840 Hanshaw Rd, (607) 266-0130• Styles by Shauna, 407 Taughannock Bld, (607) 273-0472• Studio 108 Hair Design, 108 Dryden Rd, (607) 277-4852• Talking Heads, 215 Dryden Rd, (607) 277-7778

Information & Referral Centers• Cornell University, Day Hall Lobby, (607) 254-INFO• Tompkins County, Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, call 2-1-1 (within Tompkins County) or 1 (877) 211-8667

Lost & Found• At Cornell: University Police, G-8 Barton Hall, (607) 255-7197, lostandfound@cornell.edu• On a TCAT bus: call (607) 277-7433• In Ithaca: try Ithaca Craigslist (http://ithaca.craigslist.org/laf/)

Photocopy and Fax Services• The Cornell Store (https://store.cornell.edu/), 255-3818• Gnomon Copy (http://www.gwecopy.com/), 720 S Meadow St, (607) 273-3333• K C Copy Center, 118 Dryden Rd, (607) 272-6525• Kinko’s of Ithaca (http://fedex.com/us/office/), 605 W State Street, (607) 272-0202• Olin Library Copy Operations, B41 Olin Library, (607) 255-4700• Staples (http://www.staples.com/), 742 S Meadow St, (607) 275-0240 Postal/Mail, Shipping and

Courier Services• United States Postal Service (USPS) (http://www.usps.com/), Main Office, 757 Warren Road, 1-800-275-8777, Downtown, 213 N Tioga St, 1 (800) 275-8777• Big Red Shipping and Storage (http://www.bigredboxes.com/) 409 College Ave, (607) 272-2000• Federal Express (FedEx) (http://www.fedex.com/us/office/) 747 Warren Rd, 1 (800) 463-3339; 605 W State St, (607) 272-0202• Mail Boxes Etc. (http://theupsstore.com) 101 E State St, The Commons, (607) 256-0275• ShipRite University Storage & Shipping (http://www.shiprite.net/) 206A Dryden Rd., (607) 275-3711

Solid Waste Removal (garbage/trash, recycling, compost)Note: If you are living off campus, you are responsible for disposing your trash according to Ithaca regulations and the provisions of your lease. First, check with your landlord to determine the trash removal procedures for your residence. You may be personally responsible for the costs, or this may be included in your rent. You may be required to purchase “trash tags” to label your trash for collection (removal), or asked to place your trash in a specific location. In any case, you are required to separate recyclable items (metal, glass, paper) from your regular trash.• For information about separating your recyclables, trash and recycling collection schedules, and how to purchase trash tags, visit http://www.recycletompkins.org/ and search for “trash”.• For information about general solid waste management, and recycling and reuse programs visit http://www.recycletompkins.org/• For information about large scale composting of food scraps and plant materials, visit http://www.recycletompkins.org/.

Telephone and Internet ServicesWhen thinking about what kind of telephone service you’d like, you should consider wireless (cell/mobile), landline, digital cable, and VoIP. Don’t forget to ask about international calling plans! Note: you can also purchase pre-paid calling cards to make international phone calls using your regular phone service. For internet service, you can choose DSL, FiOS, cable modem, wireless, satellite, and dial-up. Telephone and

Internet services are often integrated or bundled together, and you can sometimes add cable television service as well.• Time Warner Cable (http://www.timewarnercable.com/) Digital cable phone, broadband Internet, and television 519 West State Street, (607) 272-3456• Verizon ( http://www.verizon.com/home/verizonglobalhome/ghp_landing.aspx ) Landline and wireless phone, DSL and FiOS Internet, FiOS television (FiOS may not be available) 40 Catherwood Road, (607) 257-2917• AT&T (http://att.com) Landline and wireless phone, dial-up Internet 324 Elmira Road, (607) 273-0400• Sprint http://www.sprint.com Wireless phone, mobile Internet 40 Catherwood Road, 607-257-0252• T-Mobile (http://www.t-mobile.com/) Wireless phone, mobile Internet 40 Catherwood Road, 607-257-3465• Skype (http://www.skype.com) VoIP (Voice over Internet Provider)• Vonage (http://www.vonage.com) VoIP• Clarity Connect (http://clarityconnect.com) DSL and dial-up Internet 200 Pleasant Grove Road, (607) 257-8268• Light Link (http://www.lightlink.com) Broadband and dial-up Internet (607) 229-5838

Television (cable)Remember: television, phone, and Internet services can often be bundled together for extra savings!• Time Warner Cable (http://www.timewarnercable.com) 519 West State Street, (607) 272-3456• DIRECTV (http://www.usdirect.com/directv/)• Dish Network (http://www.dish.com) Genung Road, (607) 216-4484

Utilities (electricity, natural gas, water & sewer)For off-campus residents only! Note: landlords may pay for part, all, or none of your utilities. Check your lease or ask your landlord directly. Residences may be heated with natural gas, electricity, oil, propane, or wood stoves. It is important that you understand how your apartment is heated and powered, and who pays for the energy. If you are responsible for setting up and paying for your own electric and gas bill, you should contact NYSEG (see below). Your landlord will also tell you whether you are connected to the municipal water supply and who is responsible for paying the water & sewer bill for your residence.• New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) (http://www.nyseg.com) 1-800-572-1111• City of Ithaca Water & Sewer Division, (607) 272-1717

ShoppingBooks and Office SuppliesTip: Ithaca has a terrific Friends of the Library Book Sale each fall and spring. Thousands of used books are available in every subject. Prices get progressively cheaper over the three-week sale period. See http://booksale.org/ for more information.• Alphabet Soup (kids’ books), 133 E. State St, (607) 272-6885• Autumn Leaves (used books), 115 The Commons, (607) 273-8239• Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 614 S Meadow St, (607) 273-6784• The Bookery (rare books), The DeWitt Mall, (607) 273-5055• Buffalo Street Books, The DeWitt Mall, and (607) 273-8246• The Cornell Campus Store, (607) 255-4111• Colophon Books Inc. (specialty), 205 N Aurora St, (607) 277-5608• Comics For Collectors (comic books, manga), 207 N Aurora St, (607) 272-3007• Kraftees (text books), 325 College Ave, (607) 269-0510• Mayer's Smokeshop & Newsstand (magazines, newspapers), 318 E State St, (607) 272-1211• Race Office Equipment Co (office supplies), 123 The Commons, (607) 273-1011

• Staples (office supplies), 742 S Meadow St, (607) 275-0240• When looking for textbooks, you can also check online!• http://www.amazon.com• http://www.ebay.com• http://www.half.com• http://www.ecampus.com• http://www.textbooks.com• http :// www . abebooks . com

General Shopping (clothes, home & more)Malls, Shopping Plazas, General Shopping Areas• Cayuga Mall, 2309 N Triphammer Rd• College town• Community Corners, N Triphammer & Hanshaw Rd• Downtown Ithaca & The Commons, E State St• The DeWitt Mall, 215 North Cayuga St• East Hill Plaza, Pine Tree & Ellis Hollow Rd• Elmira Rd/S Meadow St, Route 13 South• Ithaca Shopping Plaza, Route 13 South• The Shops at Ithaca Mall, 40 Catherwood Rd• Triphammer Mall, 2255 N Triphammer Rd“Super” Stores• Bed Bath & Beyond (housewares), 131 Fairgrounds Memorial Pkwy (off Rt 13), (607) 257-0329• Home Depot (building supplies, home & garden), 410 Elmira Road, (607) 272-1094• Kmart (clothing, housewares, personal care, electronics), 744 South Meadow Street, (607) 272-1430• Lowes (building supplies, home & garden), 130 Fairgrounds Memorial Pkwy (off Rt 13), (607) 254-2000• Target (clothing, housewares, personal care, electronics), The Shops at Ithaca Mall, (607) 257-3387• Walmart (clothing, housewares, personal care, electronics), 135 Fairgrounds Memorial Pkwy (off Rt 13), (607) 277-4510

Pre-owned Housewares and ClothingPurchasing pre-owned or used items is better for the environment and your wallet. Check these places first before you buy new!• Cornell Dump & Run Sale, http://living.sas.cornell.edu/live/movingin/dumpandrun/ • Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. (dishes, furniture, electronics and more!), Triphammer Mall, (607) 257-9699• Ithaca Antique Center (vintage and antiques), 1607 Trumansburg Road, (607) 272-3611• Mama Goose (baby/toddler clothes, cloth diapers, toys and equipment), 430 West State Street, (607) 269-0600• Mimi’s Attic (household items), 430 W. State Street, 607-882-9038• Petrune (vintage clothing), 202 The Commons, (607) 277-1930• The Salvation Army (dishes, furniture, clothing, games, toys), 381 Elmira Road, (607) 273-3872• Service League Shop (clothing), 104 West Seneca Street, (607) 272-2120• Sew Green (reclaimed sewing materials) 112 N Cayuga St, (607) 277-7611• Significant Elements (reclaimed building and architectural elements), 212 Center St, (607) 277-3450• Trader K’s (clothing, children’s clothing), 119 The Commons, (607)272-4011• Ithaca Freecycle (free stuff!), http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IthacaFreecycle/• Ithaca Craigslist (online classifieds), http://ithaca.craigslist.org/sss/• Garage, Tag, Yard, and Rummage Sales• Classified Ads in newspapers

• Auctions, http :// cnyauctions . com /

Grocery and Ethnic Food StoresTip: Try a "Shopper's Club" (Wegmans) or "Bonus Card" (Tops) to make sure you get all of the advertised specials.• AJ’s Delights (Russian, East European, some Middle Eastern), Triphammer Mall• ALDI (low prices on the basics), 505 3rd St, http://www.aldifoods.com• GreenStar Cooperative Market (natural, local), 701 W Buffalo St, (607) 273-9392 (satellite location, Oasis, in Dewitt Mall)• Ithaca Bakery (sweets, condiments, cheeses), 400 N Meadow St, (607) 273-7110• Ithaca Farmer’s Market (seasonal), Steamboat Landing (off Rt 13), (607) 273-7109, http://ithacamarket.com• Ithaca Tofu (Asian/Chinese groceries), 23 Cinema Dr, (607) 266-0336• Ludgate Farms (gourmet, bulk, natural), 1552 Hanshaw Rd, (607) 257-1765• Sangam Indian Curry & Spice, Center Ithaca, The Commons, (607) 277-6717• Tops Friendly Market (large, all-purpose grocery), 710 South Meadow St, (607) 275-8041; other location: 2300 N Triphammer Rd, (607) 257-4984• Universal Deli Grocery (Asian/Indian), 428 Eddy St, (607) 273- 1213• Wegmans (large, all-purpose grocery), 500 S Meadow St, (607) 277-5800• Wilson Farms (small, all-purpose grocery), 409 College Ave, (607) 256-9672• Win Li Supermarket (Asian/Chinese groceries), 374 Elmira Road, (607) 277-6790

Recreation and EntertainmentAthletics & Fitness• Cornell Athletics ( http://www.cornellbigred.com/) Team Sports, Game Schedules, Education• Cornell Fitness Centers (http://www.fitness.cornell.edu/), Centers: Helen Newman Hall, Teagle/Schoellkopf Hall, Appel Commons Friedman Fitness Center, Noyes• Cornell Outdoor Education ( http://www.coe.cornell.edu/) Outdoor activity instruction, equipment rental• Bowling, Helen Newman Hall, (607) 255-4200, http://bigred2.athletics.cornell.edu/bowling/contactus.htm• Lindseth Climbing Wall, Bartels Hall, (607) 254-8255• Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding: Greek Peak Resort (http://www.greekpeak.net/), 800-955-2754• Robert Trent Jones Golf Course ( http://bigred2.athletics.cornell.edu/golf/) Warren Road, (607) 257-3661• Horseback Riding: Equestrian Center, (607) 272-0150• Ice Skating at Lynah Rink (http://bigred2.athletics.cornell.edu/lynah/), (607) 255-2312• Ithaca League of Women Rollers (http://www.ithacarollerderby.com/)• Grumman Squash Courts, Teagle Hall, (607) 255-1318• Swimming Pools: Helen Newman Hall, Teagle Hall http://intramurals.athletics.cornell.edu/rec/Facilities/Pool-Hours/• Reis Tennis Center (http://www.reistenniscenter.com/)• Student Organizations ( http://sao.cornell.edu/SO/ )

DiningIthaca boasts a large and diverse number of eating establishments, especially for a city of its size. There are simply too many restaurants and dining options to list all of them here. New restaurants open on a regular basis, and menus are constantly changing. We would recommend visiting http://www.ithacamenu.com/ for an up-to-date, comprehensive listing of Ithaca-area restaurants, pubs, diners, grills, bistros and cafes. You can also find information and recommendations at http://dining.14850.com/ and http://www.visitithaca.com/dining/.

For information about the local food movement, pick up a copy of Edible Finger Lakes or visit their online magazine at http://www.ediblecommunities.com/fingerlakes/.

Ithaca has three coffee roasting companies—Gimme! Coffee, Ithaca Coffee Company, and Cayuga Coffee (Ithaca Bakery), and at least three microbreweries—Ithaca Beer Company, Bandwagon Brew Pub, and The Scalehouse Brewpub. The Finger Lakes region also features a number of terrific wineries. For information about local wine trails, visit http://www.cayugawinetrail.com/ and http://senecalakewine.com/jc/

Concerts and Plays• Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (www.cayugachamberorchestra.org)• The Cayuga Vocal Ensemble (http://www.cayuga-vocal.org/)• Cornell Concert Commission (http://www.cornell-concert.com/)• Cornell Concert Series (http://www.cornellconcertseries.com/)• Dan Smalls Presents (concerts) (http://www.dansmallspresents.com)• The Hangar Theatre (http://www.hangartheatre.org/)• Ithaca Ballet (http://www.ithacaballet.org/)• Ithaca College School of Music events (http://www.ithaca.edu/music/events/index.php)• Ithaca College Theatre (http://www.ithaca.edu/hs/depts/theatre/main/)• The Kitchen Theatre (http://www.kitchentheatre.org/)• NYS Baroque (http://www.nysema.com/)• The Schwartz Center for Performing Arts (theatrefilmdance.cornell.edu/schwartz-center/)• The State Theater (http://www.stateofithaca.com/) Movie Theaters/Rentals• Cinemapolis (http://www.cinemapolis.org/) 120 Green St, The Commons, (607) 277-6115• Cornell Cinema (http://cinema.cornell.edu/) Willard Straight & Uris Hall, (607) 255-3522• Regal Cinemas (http://www.theshopsatithacamall.com/) The Shops at Ithaca Mall, 257-2700• College town Video (http://www.collegetownvideo.com) 103 Dryden Rd, (607) 272-3502• Redbox (http://www.redbox.com/) redboxes are located in Wegmans, Tops, and Walmart• Netflix (http://www.netflix.com)• Blockbuster (http://www.blockbuster.com/browse)

Museums• Cayuga Nature Center (http://www.cayuganaturecenter.org/) 1420 Taughannock Blvd, (607) 273-6260• Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Fine Art, Cornell (http://www.museum.cornell.edu/), Arts Quad, (607) 255-6464• The History Center in Tompkins County (http://www.thehistorycenter.net), 401 E State St, (607) 273-8284• Museum of the Earth (http://www.museumoftheearth.org/) 1259 Trumansburg Rd (Rt 96), (607) 273-6623• Sciencenter (http://www.sciencenter.org/), 601First St, (607) 272-0600

Parks and Nature• Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, Rt 89, (607) 272-1460• Buttermilk Falls State Park, Rt 13 S, (607) 273-5761• Cascadilla Creek Gorge, College town to Downtown• Cass Park, Taughannock Blvd, (607) 273-9211• Cornell Plantations (http://www.plantations.cornell.edu), One Plantation Rd, (607) 255-2400• Finger Lakes Trail (http://www.fltconference.org/trails/)• Ithaca Falls, Lake Street

• Robert H. Treman State Park, Route 327, 273-3440• Six Mile Creek Natural Area/Wildflower Preserve, Giles St• Taughannock Falls State Park, Route 89, (607) 387-6739• Watkins Glen, (607) 535-4511• Visit http://nyfalls.com/ for information about NY Waterfalls• Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trails_in_Ithaca,_New_York for information about recreation trails in Ithaca