Plant Biology (Interdepartmental Graduate Major)

Benefits

ISU Student Health Insurance Program

Single student coverage under the ISU Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program is provided free of charge to all graduate assistants at ISU. For new to ISU students, an ISU Insurance Program booklet should be mailed to you through campus mail as soon as you are entered on the payroll system. Students enroll for Health Insurance going on the line to AccessPlus, clicking on the Student Tab and clicking through on Health Insurance and following the instructions provided for registration.

Newly employed personnel should not drop any other insurance they may have until they know the beginning date of the ISU insurance. The Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program is available for the spouse/domestic partner of students and the children of students. For details and enrollment cutoff dates on the ISU Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program, please contact the student insurance representative (515-294-4820).

All international students, whether on assistantship or not, are required to carry the ISU Student Health Insurance or to be covered by another health insurance policy. For more information, contact the International Students & Scholars Office in 3248 Memorial Union (294-1120).

Prescription Drug Benefit Program

Graduate students on assistantship receive single coverage free of charge in a prescription drug benefit program that reduces the cost of generic and prescription drugs available at the Student Health Center Pharmacy.

Dental Insurance Dental insurance for graduate students, and their spouses and families is available through Delta Dental Plan of Iowa and may be purchased for an additional premium.

Health Service

As a student, you are eligible to use the ISU Student Health Service. Thielen Student Health Center is a complete outpatient medical clinic located west of Beyer Hall.  Additional information on the student group plan medical insurance and the benefits of the mandatory health fee may be obtained online.

Vacations and Sick Leave

Research assistants with half-time appointments (C base) earn vacation at a rate of eight hours per month. Because you are half-time, this is equivalent to two calendar days. To take vacation, you must obtain the approval of your major professor and notify the office staff in your home department. If you are a first year student on a rotation, you must obtain approval from your Temporary Graduate Advisor and notify the IPB Program Coordinator. Accumulated vacation time is forfeited upon completion of your appointment. (See your Graduate College Handbook for detailed information.)

To obtain approval for vacation time you need to fill out an Absence Request card. In your first year, the card needs to be signed by your Temporary Graduate Advisor and submitted to the IPB Program Coordinator. In later years, the Absence Requests will be handled by your home department. Students on assistantships are employees of ISU and therefore are allowed off on university holidays with subsequent absences to be taken as vacation.

Teaching assistants are subject to the academic calendar and do not accumulate vacation time. However, they are not required by the University to work when classes are not in session. Teaching Assistants are strongly advised to notify the instructor under whose supervision they are teaching of any vacations or travel plans that could influence their ability to carry out their teaching responsibilities. Graduate assistants on teaching assistantships must also get approval from their major professor before taking a vacation from their research responsibilities.

Graduate assistants of any type on half-time appointments accumulate six hours of sick leave per month. Since you are on a half-time appointment, this is equivalent to one-and-a-half calendar days. If you will be absent because of an illness, you should call your major professor as soon as possible on the day you are sick and must be absent. On your return, you will need to fill out an Absence Request form for sick leave. You should also use the form in advance when you have a planned absence for medical reasons. Maternity/Paternity leave can be taken as sick leave and/or vacation. Accumulated sick leave is forfeited upon completion of your appointment.

Injuries and Injury Reports

If you are injured while performing your duties as a Graduate Assistant, you must stop by the office of your home department or the IPB Program Office and fill out an Employers First Report of Injury as soon as you are able to do so. As a rule, the University's Worker's Compensation insurance carrier will pay for your medical care.

Student Counseling Service (SCS) provides a wide range of services to help students gain the most from their college experience. SCS offers career counseling, personal counseling, group counseling, and workshops. Most services provided by SCS are short-term in nature, and SCS can assist students needing long-term assistance with referrals to community services.

Recreation Services Office
Legal Assistance
Student Organizations