Important Information
Arriving at Rhodes
After arriving at Rhodes and getting settled into your office and department there are a few housekeeping items that will need your attention. Namely sorting out your finances and getting a staff card, internet & library access.
- In accordance with new South African postdoctoral guidelines (see below), fellows must complete a Postdoctoral Memorandum of Understanding and submit it to the Research Office located in the Central Admin building on Campus, along with 4 completed bursary forms in order to secure salary payment. Postdocs are paid in quarterly instalments (i.e. 4 times a year, in 3 month lumps) and you will need a completed Bursary Form for each payment (example).
- Take your ID book and/or passport with you and speak to Jill McGregor to obtain 2 copies of your contract confirmation. Keep one copy for your records and take the other to the Student Bureau located in the Eden Grove Complex on Campus. The staff will issue you a photo ID staff card with your staff number on it. If you have a multiple year contract you will need a new staff card every year - ESPECIALLY if you are an international postdoc (the bureau staff may be unaware that this is the proper procedure so if you have any problems simply have them phone the research office for confirmation).
- Take your contract confirmation to level one (2nd floor) of the IT Division, located on Artillery Road and they will create an email account and password for you (this takes about ½ a day to activate), once activated you may then connect your personal laptop to either the wireless or LAN connection (wireless is not available in all buildings). Once connected, open your web browser and follow the prompts to register your laptop on the Rhodes System (also takes about ½ a day). Check the IT Division website for information on user and per-host quotas as well as the description of appropriate web use.
- Finally, take your staff card to the main Library, located on Artillery Road, to have it activated, to ensure you are able borrow library materials throughout the year.
