Dear New Chemistry Graduate Students:
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, I am pleased to welcome you to The University of Alabama and to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. The contents of this handbook are intended to acquaint you with appropriate departmental procedures, course requirements, expectations we have of you in performing your teaching and research duties, and departmental safety rules and emergency procedures. You need to read this material carefully. It is especially important that you understand the safety rules and procedures and follow them.
Upon your arrival, you should stop by the Department Office (Shelby 2005) to check that all relevant employment paperwork has been completed. This includes the federal and state tax withholding forms and the Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. All of these must be completed and signed in order to be paid.
You have been given the schedule of the placement examinations. Your performance on these examinations helps us to develop an appropriate program of study for you based on your past experience. The Graduate Committee will provide a recommended initial program to you after your completion of these examinations.
You will be assigned a box in the mailroom. You should visit it daily to make sure you do not miss any announcements. It is located on the second floor (2003) next to the Main Office.
The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry’s address is
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Alabama, Box 870336, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336.
The overnight or express mail address is
250 Hackberry Lane, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
Prof. Patrick Frantom is the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department and is located in Shelby 3097B, email: pfrantom@ua.edu . He will handle any issues with registration and general issues that you might have. Teaching assistantship assignments will be made by the Undergraduate Director, Prof. Michael Jennings, Shelby 2076, email: jenningm@ua.edu. If you are on a research fellowship, please see your research director. Any questions to do with financial matters should be brought up with Ms. Arnold, Shelby 2008. Please see Prof. Frantom or me about any other questions you may have. The Chair’s secretary, Ms. April Rice, is in Shelby 2006, phone: 205-348-8436, email: aerice3@ua.edu. Please see her to make an appointment with me, if necessary.
We are excited to have you join UA’s Chemistry family. The University of Alabama and the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry are growing and improving in quality, and you are an integral part of making that happen. Graduate school is a time to expand your scientific background and professional horizons, to learn how to be a lifetime learner, and to grow personally. It is also the time to make the transition from undergraduate to professional, and we expect you to act professionally in your duties and in your actions. This is important as you are often the face of the University seen by our undergraduate students. We want to give you the opportunities you need to be successful in your chosen career in chemistry. Please let me know what I can do to help make your stay here both professionally and personally rewarding.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Greg Szulczewski
Associate Professor and Chair, Chemistry & Biochemistry