Information for Graduate Students
Welcome to CSAIL!We hope you find the following information helpful as you start your research at CSAIL. If you have any administrative questions (such as obtaining prox card access, the status of your RA appointment, getting employment verification), please contact John Merriman in 32-G425a (merriman@csail.mit.edu or 324-8353).
Contact Information Updates
If your contact information changes, please update it as follows:
MIT directory – Visit: student.mit.edu/cgi-docs/sfprwups.html (International students must record changes of home address here within ten days!)
CSAIL directory – Send an email to merriman@csail.mit.edu
CSAIL Computer Accounts
You can get started on your CSAIL computing by going to the TIG Website: www.tig.csail.mit.edu and clicking on “Get Started and Connected” on the left menu bar. If you do not know which research group to select, please ask your CSAIL supervisor. For help with network and computing resource needs, as well as facilities-related issues, contact TIG. Specifically, for computing issues, send email to help@csail.mit.edu, for off-hours emergencies, call 617-253-8034, and for emergencies during business hours visit them in 32-268. For facilities-related issues, all contact information is the same, except that email goes to oops@csail.mit.edu.
CSAIL E-mail Lists
As an official member of CSAIL, you will be a member of the csail-all@csail.mit.edu mailing list. This list is only used for very important announcements affecting all members of the lab, and therefore you should not be inundated with many emails from this list. In addition, you will be subscribed to your floor mailing list, based on your office address in the CSAIL directory, and to grads@csail.mit.edu.
When you apply for your new CSAIL email account, that address will automatically be subscribed to three popular CSAIL email lists: csail-announce@csail.mit.edu, seminars@csail.mit.edu and csail-related@csail.mit.edu. You may unsubscribe and subscribe on your own at any time. For more public CSAIL lists that you can join, visit: lists.csail.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo, or for a condensed list of the most popular, visit: tig.csail.mit.edu/twiki/bin/view/TIG/PopularLabMailingLists.
Paychecks, Direct Deposit
MIT requires that all students and employees enroll in Direct Deposit. Graduate students with RA or TA appointments or fellowships have their paychecks deposited into their bank accounts on the last business day of each month and paystubs are delivered to their offices.
To set up or change your bank information, visit the “for Students” section in WebSIS? : http://student.mit.edu/ and go to the direct deposit and tax-withholding link. While there, also make sure that your tax withholdings are set up correctly. If you have any problems with your paycheck, please see John Merriman in 32-G425a. For student tax information please visit: http://web.mit.edu/odge/financialaid/taxes.html Fax Machine
If your group does not have its own fax machine, there is one in CSAIL headquarters for use by lab members. In order to use it to send faxes, you will need a seven-digit MIT account number. There is no charge for receiving faxes. The CSAIL fax number is (617) 258-8682. Annie Lawthers will send an email to lab members who receive faxes in CSAIL; please be sure the sender clearly addresses the fax to you.
Libraries
http://libraries.mit.edu
Your MIT ID card will allow you to take out books from any of the MIT Libraries, and many other university libraries in the Boston area. Visit the MIT Libraries Web Site or call 617-324-2275 for information
CSAIL Student Committee
CSAIL has a very active graduate student committee, which plans events such as the Graduate Student Lunch, CSAIL Olympics and Recognizing Art contest. For more information and to get involved, visit: projects.csail.mit.edu/student-committee/ .
Emergency Preparedness, Personal Safety and Theft
Please be aware that CSAIL is a relatively open space, especially during the workday. There have been thefts of computers, cell phones, and wallets from offices and open areas in CSAIL, so please make sure to secure your area and do not leave valuables unattended.
Dial 100 or 617-253-1212 from a campus phone for all police, medical/ambulance, fire/explosion, and other emergencies. Non-emergency injuries should be reported to your supervisor and MIT Medical Department, E23, 253-1311 (open 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week). After contacting the proper authorities, please also let TIG know about thefts and a CSAIL HR staff person know about any injuries within 24 hours of the accident.
As you begin to find your way around the Stata Center, please be sure to take note of the fire exits in the building, and in particular, at least two evacuation routes near your work area. The fire alarm system in the Stata Center is designed based on Massachusetts building code. To know what to expect in case of an emergency, please visit: www.csail.mit.edu/resources/emergency
In addition, please be cautious when walking around campus at night. Safe Ride is a free safety shuttle service around campus which is open to all members of the MIT community. The schedule can be found on the Parking & Transportation website: web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/shuttles/safe_ride.html.
Website
The CSAIL website, www.csail.mit.edu, has a lot of valuable information for CSAIL members. This includes a member directory, lab administrative contact names, research abstracts and activities, events calendar, awards listing and a resources section. In the resources section you will find links to reserve CSAIL conference rooms, change your directory information, find emergency information and download CSAIL logo materials.
If printed, this page can be found at: http://hq.csail.mit.edu
