This page is designed to help you find the contact people that can best help you with frequently asked questions.  Questions about COMPUTERS are answered on our Computer FAQ page and questions about COURSES are answered on our Course FAQ page.

If your question isn't answered here, you may wish to consult the Departmental Handbook or contact your secretary.  For questions regarding the university's procedures, you may wish to consult the Faculty Handbook or the University's Policies and Procedures.

Visitors

Q: How do I get approval to invite a visitor?  What funds are available?

A.  First, you must send a request to the Chair (with a copy to Ms. Burns) to have the visitor approved.  The amount of departmental funds available for a speaker depends on the type of talk given and the length of stay.

Q: How do I make local arrangements?

A.  If the visitor is going to speak in the department, Ms.Schwander is in charge of the arrangements.  This includes shuttles, hotel and meal reservations, and meeting schedules.  Also contact Ms. Schwander to have the speaker's talk put on the departmental calendar.

Q: Is there a page with directions to the department?

A.  Yes: Driving directions; travel by air, by train or bus.  

Q: How do I get the visitor an office?

A.  Ms. Burns is in charge of giving temporary office assignments and distributing keys.

Q: Are there any special procedures for international visitors?

A.  Yes. But only for Honorariums received by Rees Distinquished Lecturers and Outside Colloquium Speakers . The form can be obtained on the department web site or from Ms. Walls. Copies of pertinent documents will be needed and copied by Ms. Walls for submission to the University Foreign Services Dept.

Q: Can I get a long-term visitor a computer account?  A library card?

A.  Yes.  To obtain a computer account, complete the registration form and return it to Mr. Schwenk .  To obtain a library card, see Ms. Burns for an Authorized Borrower application, which is available in Ewing 502 which must be signed by the hosting faculty member and the Chair. Ms. Burns will mail it to the Library's Circulation dept. The temporary library card will be mailed to the department under the Faculty Host’s name.

Q: What about meals?

A.   Departmental funds are available to cover 1 speaker and up to 3 faculty at the rate of $15 pp for lunch and $30 for dinner all inclusive and no alcohol. Ms. Walls can can make reservations at Vita Nova but advanced booking is required. You can choose to use local restaurants but must use your Travel & Entertainment card. You must also provide a detailed receipt (not just a credit card slip) to Ms. Burns upon your return with the name of the Speaker and faculty attending. Any meal charges that exceed the dept allowance or includes alchohol will need to be covered by personal check at the time the receipt is turned into Ms. Burns.

Q: How does the speaker get reimbursed?

A.  The speaker must complete a Visitor Reimbursement Form and mail it along with original receipts to Ms. Burns.

Q: When do I need to get travel authorization?

A. You must complete a Travel Authorization Form when you will be gone for more than 24 hours, or if you will be missing a class, or need departmental funding. Submit the form to the Ms. Irwin . Note: when requesting dept. funds, a copy of the invitation or program announcement must be attached.

Some departmental funding is available if you are giving a talk at a conference. Additional funds for International Travel is also available in the amount of $750 through an application form from the Center for International Studies. (see their web site)

A. You are you are responsible for making your own reservations, either on your own or through a travel agent. . By using your Travel & Entertainment credit card. All detailed receipts must be turned over to your Secretary immediately upon your return. Note: you must go into the WORKS program to sign off on all of your charges in order to replenish your card. In addition, when you receive your bank statement from Bank of America, be sure to submit it to your secretary.

A. The University operates on a receipt-based system, so there are no per-diem rates. You will need to use your Travel & Entertainment credit card for all your travel expenses. If a vendor will not accept your credit card, then you can submit a detailed receipt to your secretary for reimbursement. Boarding passes are required for all airfare charges. Any charges under $10 do not require a receipt but must be summarized to your secretary for reimbursement. . For complete details, you may consult the University's Travel Policy.

A.  Yes, just access the library's page for this service.  You can renew your books by calling x1638.

A.  Complete this form.

Q: What do I do if my secretary is out sick?

A.  Contact Ms. Burns for assignment of temporary help.

Q: How can I find out my grant balance?

A.  Contact Ms. Irwin if all you need is a summary printout; other grant questions should be directed to Ms. Burns.

Q: What do I do if I need to update my departmental directory listing?

A.  Contact Ms. Schwander.

Q: I need to order something. Whom do I contact?

A.  Ms. Popowich in #301 is in charge of ordering standard office supplies.  For computer hardware and software, contact Mr. Schwenk.  Other items (non-course-related books, etc.) may be ordered through your secretary.

Q: I want to hold a meeting. How do I schedule/publicize it?

A. To reserve one of the department's conference rooms see the Conference Room Schedule link on the Faculty & Staff Resource page for availability and then use the web form located on that page to make the reservation   If you want the meeting to appear in the departmental calendar, contact Ms. Walls .