BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

You may have some questions over the summer. Here are some people who can help:

Mail and packages may be sent to the Plant Biology Department at the following address. Some of us have found this address especially useful during the transition to Burlington. You will have a mailbox here as a graduate student.

Use this address:

(Your name)
Department of Plant Biology 111 Jeffords Hall
63 Carrigan Drive University of Vermont 
Burlington, VT 05405

The Definitive Guide to Renting in Vermont is a helpful resource. Burlington has a very low vacancy rate (less than 1%), but there is a lot of turnover as students move in and out. Plan to spend a week or more finding a place to live. The first question is whether to live in Burlington or outside, and you may find something slightly cheaper in the outlying towns. If you commute, parking on UVM campus is limited and expensive.

Rents range with the usual levels of quality in housing. There are many, many dumpy houses in Burlington, and quite a few gems too. A careful search is warranted--best not to accept the first place you visit! Here is what you can expect:

Listings may be found in the following sources:

Here is a list of some things to help get you settled in with the program and life in Burlington.

1. First set up a UVM netid.  A NetID is a unique username and password used to access various UVM systems and services, including the UVM wireless network and email.
2. Email: once you have a UVM netid, you will be able to set up an email address.
3. See Mallory for your office keys.  Typically, you will have office space in the lab of your advisor or the lab in which you are doing a rotation or in a shared graduate student office.
4. Books: texts may be purchased from the UVM Bookstore in the Davis Center. Wait for the first few days of classes to see which books are essential to buy, which can be checked out from the library or found at the library reserve desk, and which can perhaps be borrowed from another student.
5. Student ID: Your student ID card—the CATcard—is available at the CATCard Office in the Billings building, under the Ira Allen Chapel. Your CATCard is used to borrow books from the library, use the UVM gym, and ride the city buses for free. You can also put money on your CATCard at the same office: useful for photocopies in the library, campus eateries, and some Burlington businesses. In addition, your CATCard will permit entry to the Plant Biology office as well as Jeffords Hall after hours. Mallory can help set up your building access for you.
6. Parking permit (limited to students living more than one-half mile from campus): available from Transportation and Parking Services, located in Marsh Hall, 31 Spear Street. A grad student parking permit is currently $168 for the academic year. A parking permit is not required on weekends, holidays, and after 3:30pm daily.

Jeffords Hall

We will try to give a short tour of our academic home, Jeffords Hall, during the grad student orientation meeting, but for your reference, here is some useful information about working and living in Jeffords. 

1. Copier/Scanner: The copier is located in the Plant Biology Office. You can scan to your email address for free.
2. Mail: There is a box for outgoing mail in room 107. Intercampus mail can go in the special mailers (ask Mallory or Karyn). Stamped mail goes out each morning. Next day UPS goes out daily. Each of us has a mailbox in the office (room 111).
3. Letterhead and envelopes: Available in the Plant Biology Office for program business.

Health and Health Insurance

The Center for Health and Well Being, UVM’s student health center, is located at 425 Pearl Street. They often have appointments on short notice.

Another great benefit is free counseling. Working in a small group of intense individuals can be tough and everyone has reasons to talk. Call the Counseling Center (802-656-3340) to make an appointment.  

All new students need to file a personal health and immunization record with the Center for Health and Wellbeing. You must have current MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) shots. You should be sent a form to fill out.

Student Health Insurance. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences pays 100% of the cost of single UVM health insurance for all full-time graduate students who do not have alternate insurance, with a smaller percentage paid for part-time students. Students who are not otherwise covered under a health policy are required to purchase health insurance through the university. All international students, regardless of other coverage, are required to purchase health insurance through UVM. There is an additional charge for this extended coverage beyond the student health fee. The 2025-2026 cost for one year's coverage for single students is $4,478. Married students may obtain coverage for their spouse and children at additional cost. Further details are available from the Center for Health and Wellbeing. To participate in this insurance, the student health fee must be paid each semester in addition to the annual insurance premium.

Graduate Student Fees

Comprehensive Fee. As of Fall 2024, the comprehensive fee is covered by your scholarship. Current Comprehensive Fees per semester are as follows: 1 credit, $10; 2 credits, $20; 3 credits, $30; 4 credits, $40; 5 credits, $447; 6 credits, $499; 7 credits, $561; 8 credits, $624; 9 or more credits, $1,136.

Graduate Student Senate Fee. The current Graduate Student Senate fee is $15 (1-4 cr.) or $25 (5 or more credits). You are responsible for this fee.

Student Health Center Fee. Students enrolled in 5 to 8.5 credits who purchase UVM insurance will be charged the $481.50 per semester Student Health Center fee. For students enrolled in 9+ credits, the health center fee is included in the comprehensive fee.

Continuous Registration Fee. When a graduate student has completed most or all of the credits required in the degree program but has not completed all degree requirements (e.g. thesis defense), the comprehensive fee is no longer required. Instead, they must register for GRAD 901, 902, or 903 and pay a continuous registration fee of $100-$300 per semester.

Reactivation Fee - Reactivation following withdrawal or deactivation requires payment of a $40 reactivation fee.

Advanced Degree Fee. One-time fee charged when you submit your Intent to Graduate Form ($35 for Ph.D., $20 for MS), which must be submitted by the Graduate College deadline for your planned graduation date.

Overview of the Department and its Programs

The Department of Plant Biology has a strong and diversified research presence, with programs in two areas basic to plant science: 1) ecology, evolution, and systematics, and 2) biochemistry and cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Information on specific faculty research programs may be found on the department's web page:

The Department offers two graduate degree programs:

• M.S. - Field Naturalist Option
• Ph.D. in Plant Biology

Program Description

The Field Naturalist Program is a unique field-based experience that develops the potential of future conservation leaders by emphasizing scientific integration, oral and written communication, and environmental problem solving. Students receive a solid grounding in field-related sciences and are trained to integrate scientific disciplines into a coherent whole at the landscape level. Students also develop competence in evaluating field sites from a number of perspectives and/or criteria, translating scientific insights into ecologically sound decisions, and communicating effectively to a wide range of audiences. Additional information can be found on the program's web page.

Requirements for Admission

• Sustained interest and engagement in the environment
• A track record of academic and professional achievement in science or environment
• At least some coursework in the natural sciences
• At least 3 years of job, professional, or life experience after college

Minimum Degree Requirements

All students must successfully complete a total of 30 credit hours including a set of core courses in the field sciences and professional writing, as well as elective courses in the life sciences, earth sciences, and ecology, to be chosen in consultation with the program director and studies committee. At least six credits must be at the 6000-level or above. Satisfactory completion of an oral comprehensive examination is required. A Field Naturalist student’s degree culminates in satisfactory completion of a field project for a sponsoring organization that includes a professional report, a literature review, two oral presentations, and a journal publication or a popular article for a general audience.
 

Doctor of Philosophy 

Requirements for Admission

• The equivalent of a UVM major in a natural or physical science
• Evidence of previous research experience 

Minimum Degree Requirements

All students must successfully complete a total of 75 credits, including a minimum of 30 credits of program-related course work and 20 credits of dissertation research. First-year students participate in at least two rotations in research laboratories before committing to one laboratory for completion of dissertation research. Satisfactory completion of the written and oral components of a comprehensive examination are required for advancement to candidacy. A student’s Ph.D. degree is culminated by satisfactory completion of a dissertation, a public seminar, and a private defense with their studies committee. In addition to research, all students must participate in a minimum of two courses of supervised teaching.

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy

Satisfactory completion of the written and oral components of a comprehensive examination are required for advancement to candidacy.

Studies Committee

Role. The studies committee advises the student's program of study and design of the thesis research. They may also administer the comprehensive examination, or a separate committee may be formed to administer the comprehensive exam.

Constitution. The studies committee consists of at least four faculty memebers for a Ph.D. All studies committee members must be Graduate College faculty, and the Chair of the committee may not have an appointment within the degree-granting program.

Committee Meetings. The student is advised to convene a meeting of the studies committee soon after a research topic has been selected, and at least annually after that.

Coursework

Registering for courses. Do not register for the fall semester until you have spoken with your advisor. Course registration is done electronically, via myUVM, where you can add and drop classes, check your grades, and access an online course schedule.

Course credits. Be sure to read the Graduate College's Enrollment Policies and Procedures. This section will tell you what you need to do each semester in order to be considered a full-time student. In short, you must be enrolled for 9 credit hours (of courses and/or research) during each of the fall and spring semesters to receive the benefits of a full-time graduate student. Full-time students who are working during the summer may enroll for up to 5 credits of research during the summer semester. Students who have finished the credits required for their degree (75 for Ph.D.) but are still working fulltime on their thesis research should enroll in GRAD 903 during the fall and spring semesters to maintain fulltime student status.

Lab Rotations, Ph.D. Candidates

During the first year, Ph.D. students will do research rotations in the labs of at least two faculty members. Students should contact faculty about potential rotations in the first week or two of the fall semester. Rotations are an opportunity to try out different subdisciplines and to work with different faculty members. Rotations shlould be completed by the end of the spring semster. At that time, students will initiate thesis research in the lab of their thesis advisor.

Seminar Program

Participation in the Plant Biology department's seminar program is expected of all graduate students. This includes both regular attendance at seminar and presentation of one seminar per year. (Two graduate seminars are customarily scheduled in a seminar slot; thus each student's seminar will be about 20 minutes long.)

Comprehensive Exams

Comprehensive exams include both a written and an oral component. The exams are customarily topical, related to the student's area of specialization. Ph.D. students are encouraged to complete their comprehensive exams by the end of the second year.

Thesis Defense

The culmination of the research performed by Ph.D. candidates is the thesis defense. This defense includes both a seminar-style public component and a closed examination with the studies committee.

Assistantships

Ph.D. students in the Plant Biology Department are funded at the rate of $33,280 per year. 

Payroll checks are distributed on the 15th and the 30th of the month (or the nearest weekday beforehand). UVM requires that you set up direct deposit for your pay unless you submit a request for an exception. You can sign up for direct deposit on PeopleSoft. Please see Karyn in the main office (111 Jeffords Hall) for help with this. It takes 1-2 pay periods for direct deposit to kick in.

Graduate Teaching Assistantship. Many graduate students in Plant Biology are supported on a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). GTAs provide instruction in the laboratory sections of courses taught by department faculty. Typically, beginning graduate students are assigned to the introductory biology courses (BIOL 1400 and BCOR 1400 [fall] and BIOL 1450 and BCOR 1450 [spring]). Prior to the beginning of each semester, you will receive a letter informing you of your teaching assignment. We try to match graduate student teaching interests with the needs of the Department. Tuition for 9 credits of graduate coursework per semester is covered for students serving as GTAs.

Typically, a GTA assignment is for 20 hours of work per week, and includes teaching two lab sections, grading papers, and so on. It is a serious commitment. Most professors express a great deal of respect and admiration for the skills that grad students bring to their teaching assignments. Graduate Teaching Assistants often work together to design labs and bounce ideas off each other, striving for quality and creativity. GTAs are encouraged to seek training and feedback on their teaching skills from faculty members. UVM’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers regular workshops on pedagogical approaches, which students are encouraged to participate in. Graduate students also receive feedback directly from their students through the use of student evaluation forms at the end of each semester.

Time Limits for Graduate Degree Completion. The UVM Graduate College sets a 9-year time limit for completion of the Ph.D. Needless to say, most students complete their programs well within the University limit.

Howe Library

The Howe Library has tremendous resources that you all should explore right away. Library staff often offer library orientations for new graduate students. Inquire at the reference desk. Library hours, the online catalog, and much more can be found at the library’s website, linked above.

Interlibrary Loan. If you can't find a book or article you need in the library, you can put in an on-line interlibrary loan request. This is easy and very useful. If you request an article, they will either send you a photocopy that you can pick up at the circulation desk, or they will send you an electronic copy of the article-pretty convenient!

Periodicals/Journals. On the second floor, unbound newest issues to the north side, old ones bound in the stacks. Be aware that graduate students can check out periodicals, new issues for two hours, and bound issues for two weeks. You need to fill out circulation cards at the periodical desk to do this. This is a very convenient option if you want to photocopy an article elsewhere instead of using the somewhat pricey library copiers.

Reserve Desk. On the first floor is the reserve desk where you can check out course materials for short-term in-library use. When you’re teaching a course, you can place books and supplementary readings on reserve for your students.

Media Services. Located in the basement, this department has a wide range of AV equipment for loan, a photo stand for making slides of art and photos, audio and video rooms, and a couple of powerful Dell computers with full graphics and digital editing software and scanning hardware. You can check out digital cameras and video cameras here (very nice!). With your UVM CATCard you can sign out any equipment you need. You can also check out DVDs and videos for free!

Map Room. Here you can find ortho-photos, topos, soil surveys, a GIS station and much more. The staff are extremely helpful and have lots of local knowledge (plan extra time for any visit). The Map Room is on the bottom floor of the library across from Government Documents.

Special Collections. Located in Billings, this facility houses archival materials, including a great collection of Vermontiana and rare books. Materials from here cannot be checked out, but with the permission of the attendant on duty you can take them to a photocopier (you'll have to leave an I.D.). The Special Collections facility has limited hours.

Copiers and Scanners. On the first floor of the library near the reserve desk are copy machines, which can be operated with coins or your CATCard. One of the copiers is equipped with the capability to scan and email copies to yourself. While making hard copies costs money, scanning is free.

Library Research Annex. Located across East Ave. from the entrance to the main UVM parking lot. The Annex is in the cluster of buildings on the way to Centennial Woods. Here you'll find the complete collection of UVM Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations, older journals, and the University archives. Although you can't take materials out of the building, there is a photocopier and some places to work.

Waterman Building 

Waterman is the administrative center of the campus. Often you can do a number of errands in one trip through its avenue-like hallways. Offices you may have occasion to visit include the Registrar, Student Financial Services, Graduate College, Accounting, Cashier, and Payroll.

Davis Center

Davis is UVM's impressive student center, home to the UVM Book Store, CAT Pause (a convenience store), the student government offices, and several eateries. The Computer Depot, located within the bookstore, is UVM's authorized reseller and service provider of Apple, Dell, and Gateway computers. More information can be found on the Davis Center website.

Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) Helpline

The ETS helpline is a great resource for any kind of computer-related questions. You can ask them about problems with your own personal computer, or with anything related to the campus computers and network. Call them up at 802 656- 2604, email them at techteam@uvm.edu, get help online, or visit them at the Computer Depot on the bottom floor of Billings, not far from the CATCard office.

Gradnet

Gradnet is a listserv for graduate students across campus. Signing up will keep you in touch with the grad community and will let you know about everything from available apartments and rooms to yard sales and social events to thesis defense deadlines. To subscribe to GradNet, you need a UVM email address. Send a message to listserv@list.uvm.edu with “subscribe gradnet [your first name] [your last name]” in the email body. The welcoming message you receive from the listserv will tell you how to unsubscribe if you decide to do so in the future.

Pringle Herbarium

The Pringle Herbarium is the second largest collection of pressed, dried plant specimens in New England. Here you can find specimens (~360,000) from Vermont and other parts of the world dating back more than 200 years. It has an excellent library of botanical references. The Pringle Library is not catalogued on the Howe system, so you will need to visit to learn what they have. The herbarium library is located on the third floor of Jeffords, at the north end of the building.

Proctor Maple Research Center (PMRC)

The Proctor Maple Research Center (PMRC), located on the lower slopes of Mount Mansfield, is a Field Research Station of the Department of Plant Biology. The Proctor Center was established in 1946 in Underhill Center, Vermont. Research there has centered on the sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum Marsh) and its products--sap and syrup. Much of the research contributed by the Proctor has provided new and/or improved techniques for efficient sap collection and evaporation systems and for improvement of maple syrup quality. In addition, research there has contributed to an improved understanding of the physiology and continued health of sugar maple trees. It is a great place to see sugaring in the late winter.

UVM Greenhouse

The UVM Greenhouse (connected to Jeffords Hall) is a state-of-the-art facility for research. It contains a permanent collection of plant specimens as well as bench space for teaching and research purposes. It is also a great place to visit, especially in the dead of winter! For questions about greenhouse use, contact Derek Allen, Greenhouse Director.

UVM Campus Recreation

UVM Campus Recreation provides an excellent array of classes, activities, and facilities, including a gym, fitness center, and pool. For a fee of $70/semester, you can take all of the group fitness classes you want, including yoga, kickboxing, cycling, etc. Another treat is free ice skating on the hockey rink during scheduled open skate hours. You can check out their website for all the activities that are available.

Where to Eat

The on-campus eateries most convenient to Jeffords Hall are in the Davis Center:

• The Marketplace (cafeteria style, with lots of options, including, soup, sushi, flatbread, Indian food, etc.)
• New World Tortilla (burritos, etc.)
• UVM Dairy Bar (ice cream!)
• Henderson's Cafe (espresso bar in the bookstore).

Check the UVM Dining Service website for more eateries on campus.

The Harvest Café, in the UVM Medical Center Hospital, sells good food for very reasonable prices.

For a quick snack, there are vending machines on the first floor of Jeffords.

Where to Buy Groceries

City Market, S. Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT. Co‐op located right downtown. Easy to get to and prices aren’t too high (for a natural food co-op). You can be a volunteer member worker at numerous local nonprofits through the co-op and get additional (7-12%) discounts on your groceries. There is a second City Market location in the South End, on Flynn Ave.

Healthy Living, Dorset Street, S. Burlington, VT. Not a co‐op, but has a great selection of organic, local, and natural foods and groceries. They have a slightly different bulk selection than City Market and a larger selection of things like cleaners, shampoos, etc.  A little on the pricey side, but locally owned!

Hannaford, a grocery chain with several stores around town. Good prices, and with at least some of their products sourced locally.

Farmers’ Markets. There are several farmers’ markets in the area. The Burlington Farmers’ Market, on Pine St. in Burlington, is the oldest and largest. It’s open on Saturdays, every week during the growing season, and twice a month during the winter. There are also markets in the Old North End, South Burlington, and Winooski (a teeny tiny but really delicious one). 

Trader Joe's, Dorset Street, S. Burlington, VT. Located across the street from Healthy Living, Trader Joe’s is reasonably economical, with a diverse array of food offerings. Local? Not so much!

CSAs. There are many in Vermont, including a number in and around Burlington. The Intervale (a local community farm) offers a multi-farm CSA at a student rate that you can pick up on campus. UVM's Catamount Farm also offers an on-campus drop-off, and the veggies are grown by UVM's sustainable farmer training program. Pete’s Greens, Rockville Market Farm, and Jericho Settlers’ Farm are some others that we’ve tried and recommend; some offer semester-long shares, while others are divided by season. 

Rally Cat's Cupboard, UVM’s on-campus food pantry, located on the first floor of the Davis Center. Don't go hungry.

The People's Farmstand is a pop-up farmstand that was started in the summer of 2021 by a couple of local farmers. They collect extra produce from Burlington-area farms, and sell it on a sliding scale from $0-10. Last year they had two locations, Pomeroy Park in the Old North End and South Meadows in South Burlington, every Friday evening from July until mid-October. It's a wonderful way to meet local farmers and stock your fridge with delicious and beautiful produce without breaking the bank!

Willow's Bagels, near to the downtown City Market store, often has free day-old bagels outside their shop. Stop by on your walk home from campus to stock up on breakfast supplies.

Explore the Surrounding Area

As you’ve surely noted already, the Burlington area offers amazing opportunities for outdoor recreation.  Here are some of our favorites:

In Burlington, check out the Bike Path, Rock Point, Intervale (north end of North Prospect St.), Centennial Woods (on campus), East Woods, Oak Ledge Park, Red Rocks Park, and North Beach (good for a swim or BBQ). 

UVM Natural Areas: UVM stewards eleven amazing Natural Areas, from Shelburne Pond, the largest undeveloped water body in the Champlain Valley, to the alpine summit of Mount Mansfield.  Fun fact: our own program founder Hub Vogelmann was instrumental in identifying and conserving some of these areas! For more information about UVM's Natural areas, visit their website. 

Just south of town, there are some other great destinations including Wheeler Nature Park, Shelburne Bay, and the LaPlatte Nature Preserve.

For the Green Mountains, there is a decent map to the trails of Mt. Mansfield and Camel’s Hump for sale in places such as the Outdoor Gear Exchange. A classic guidebook is “The Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont,” put out by the Green Mountain Club. These peaks are busy on weekends, as is Hunger Mountain, near Waterbury. 

Don't forget the Adirondacks, just a ferry ride away. Worth the extra 45 minutes to an hour of driving. There are ample wilderness areas for canoeing and hiking and hundreds of mountains to climb! The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness is very close, and usually much quieter than the high peaks; it also features the largest undeveloped lake in the Adirondacks.

The Ben and Jerry’s factory near Waterbury is the ideal stop after a hike in Smuggler’s Notch or up Hunger Mountain. And just down the street is the Cabot cheese outlet where they have all flavors available for taste testing, as well as (often) wine and chocolate samples. Also nearby is the home of the best cider donuts around at Cold Hollow Cider Mill.

The Catamount Outdoor Center in Williston has a mountain bike series in summer and Nordic skiing in winter. Past FNs have recommended cross-country skiing and sledding on the Burlington golf course. Cross-country skiing at Camel's Hump Ski Area is also wonderful, and cheaper than most other places ($10/person).

Shelburne Farms has trails and offers a variety of educational programs for adults and youth. They also make and sell cheese, bread, and other products. Just an all-around great place to check out. The grounds, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, are absurdly beautiful, with panoramic lake views.

Other mountain biking & trail running locations: Cochran's, in Richmond, Saxon Hill, in Essex, Hinesburg Town Forest, Sleepy Hollow, in Huntington... 

Burlington and the surrounding area also offers a rich array of historic and cultural attractions. Here are some websites with good recommendations:

www.vermont.org

www.vermontvacation.com

This handbook was last revised on April 15, 2025. Part of the information was taken from the UVM Graduate College's website, which is well worth visiting.