Welcome to UNIS

Information from the Department of Academic Affairs

Spring semester 2017

1 The Department of Academic Affairs

• Ane H. Bjørsvik – Head of Department – UNIS leader group – UNIS Ecom (Educational Committee)

• Anne D.-L. Bjørndal – Adviser – studies – Dept. of Arctic Geophysics – Exam coordinator – PhD students

• Ruben Eidesen – Adviser – studies – Dept. of Arctic Technology – Admission coordinator – Student registration – National Student Database (FS)

2 The Department of Academic Affairs

• Elise Strømseng – Adviser – studies – Dept. of Arctic Geology – Statistics – Internationalization / exchange programmes – Quality Assurance – Contact person – University of the Arctic (UArctic)

• Lise Gjellestad – Adviser – studies – Dept. of Arctic Biology – Guest master and PhD students – Time Scheduling – Responsible for [email protected]

We are here to help, please visit us in 2nd floor!

3 IT services

• http://www.unis.no/resources/it-services/

Your user account and data will be kept for 2 weeks after your studies are finished.

People staying in Longyearbyen after their studies will not have access to the UNIS computer system.

Kjell-Ivar Petter

4 Registration and semester fee

All students will be registered at a Norwegian university: UiT (Tromsø) UiO (Oslo) UiB (Bergen) NTNU (Trondheim) UiS (Stavanger) NMBU (Ås) UiA (Agder) Nord University (Bodø)

 Students already registered at a Norwegian university will still be registered at that university  Foreign students (without any exchange status) will be registered at the University of Tromsø.  Students on exchange programmes (Erasmus, North 2 North, NORDPLUS or the Fellowship Programme for Studies in the High North) are registered at their host university.  Students on exchange programmes are exempted from paying the semester fee.

NB: Remember to register at the student web, and pay the semester fee within February 1st 2017

Photo: NP 5 Sources of Information

. Your UNIS e-mail account . UNIS WEB-page: www.unis.no . Facebook - The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) . Facebook – UNIS Spring 2017 . Bulletin board (located between the library and the cantina) . The time schedule is available online: www.unis.no/studies

It is your own responsibility to check for messages!

- Student advisors - Reception - Fellow students - Scientific staff

6 Exams

• UNIS exam regulations: http://www.unis.no/studies/regulations-and- routines/exam-regulations/

• All mandatory activities (excursions, lab exercises, reports etc.) must be approved to sit the exam.

• The semester fee must be paid.

• Withdrawal prior to the exam: deadline two weeks prior to the exam date.

• Remember to bring your ID to the exam.

• The exam starts on time. Meet at least 15 minutes before the exam starts.

7 Exams

• Permitted aids – your own responsibility to bring these

– Dictionary English  mother tongue – UNIS have exam calculators you can borrow – Others?

• Special needs: – If you are granted special arrangements for the exam at your home university, this will also apply at UNIS provided that an application is sent to UNIS at latest 3 weeks prior to the exam. Documentation from your home institution must be included.

• Candidate number: – Handed out during the exam. – Remember it, as you need it to get the exam results.

8 Exam results

• Results announced by e-mail within four weeks after the exam. Information on how to order an exam transcript will also be provided.

• Not happy with your grade? – Ask for an explanation of your grade – deadline: one week after notification of the grade. Request directed to the student administration to ensure anonymity.

– Appeal against the grade – deadline: three weeks after announcement of examination results. • In writing, addressed to UNIS • A new independent committee will be appointed • The new result can not be appealed. The new result can be the same, better or worse.

9 Exams

• Students who have legal absence at the original exam can sit a re-scheduled exam. Students who do not pass an exam have the right to re-sit the examination. The students must themselves register for this, by notifying UNIS within a given deadline. See exam regulations.

• Students can present themselves for the same exam up to three times subsequently (i.e., the next two times the course is being offered). – The best grade will apply.

10 Course Evaluation

• All students receive an electronic course evaluation (by e-mail) by the end of the course.

• Your feedback is valuable for improving UNIS courses for future students.

• A mid-term evaluation will be arranged for comments / feedback during the course (semester courses only).

11 Nybyen / Sjøskrenten

• The Arctic Student Welfare Organization (Samskipnaden) is responsible for accommodation in Nybyen and Sjøskrenten. Questions: [email protected] / Office A317 (2nd floor)

• Your postal address (post box by the UNIS reception) in Nybyen/Sjøskrenten is: “YOUR NAME”, PB 394, 9171 Longyearbyen

• Read carefully your housing contract; regulations and fire instructions in your barrack. Use of gun locker is mandatory when storing weapon(s) and ammunition. The key to the locker is in your room.

• Remember to sort your garbage. Oversized / hazardous waste can be handed in at the waste disposal plant for free.

12 Health care

• Next of kin-form – Is sent to you together with the acceptance letter. Please fill in online ASAP.

• Medical care / dentist – Hospital, 79 02 42 00 – Students from certain countries will be called for a tuberculosis test at the hospital

• Contact point when UNIS is closed – UNIS on duty person, +47 95 28 35 11

• In need of someone to talk to – Fellow students, student advisors, hospital, church (open 24/7), Psychologist Anna Eckhardt (+47 91 78 11 54)

- The Student Councelling Centre in Tromsø will provide councelling regarding psychological and social challenges by skype. Free of charge, can be facilitated by the student advisors. See http://samskipnaden.no/node/646

• If you are concerned about a fellow student’s well-being, including irresponsible handling of weapons you are obliged to inform us. (Student advisors, UNIS staff, HSE director (Fred S. Hansen)).

13 Insurance

• It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate types of insurance, and that your insurance is valid in Svalbard. • This applies to travel, accident and health insurance. • UNIS students are not insured while in the Svalbard Science Centre (UNIS building) taking classes or studying, or during leisure time.

• All UNIS students are covered by a UNIS accident insurance during UNIS field activities, when properly registered in the field log before leaving UNIS. The insurance covers a single payment of 15G (G=Norwegian National Insurance Scheme basic amount, currently NOK 90 068) in case of 100 % invalidity. For those who are members of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (Norsk Folketrygd), this insurance also covers treatment cost up to NOK 50 000.

14 Miscellaneous

• English is the official language at UNIS.

• UNIS opening hours 08-16 - ID card with pin

• Computers - e-mail address, username, password and print code

15 Miscellaneous

• Alcohol card - pick up at Nordpolet (available from 23 January)

• Friday gathering - stick within the allocated time and clean up afterwards (16-20)

• Student council and representatives in the UNIS board - election will be held in January

• Bank Account - get 11 digit Norwegian ID from Tax office first

16 Miscellaneous

• Discounts: You need a valid student ID to get the discounts – Arctica 15% (sport shop in Lompensenteret) – Sportscenteret 10-15% (sport shop at Elvesletta) – Frisk Briis 15% (sport / clothing shop in town) – Sport 1 20% (sport / clothing shop in Lompensenteret) – Frost Spitsbergen 10% (clothing shop in Lompensenteret) – Longyear 78 Outdoor 10% on clothing (sport / clothing shop in town) – Different pubs might have student offers!

• UNIS cars are for UNIS related activities only, and can only be borrowed by staff. Booking is done in the reception.

• Media: If you are in contact with the TV, radio, newspapers about UNIS related matters, we appreciate if you inform us so we can link to this from our web page. Always wear UNIS logo visible 

17 Interdisciplinary courses spring 2016

• SH-201 – The History of Svalbard (6 ECTS) – http://www.unis.no/course/sh-201-the-history-of-svalbard/

• AGF-216 The Stormy Sun and the Northern Lights (5 ECTS) – http://www.unis.no/course/agf-216-the-stormy-sun-and-the-northern-lights/

• Sign up at the first lecture or on application web • At least 80% attendance at lectures required. • Written exam

18 Evacuating UNIS

19 General Alarm Evacuation routes from the Science Centre on Svalbard

Emergency exit: Evacuation routes:

Gathering area UNIS Guest House, UGH.

20 Have a great spring term at UNIS!

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