The Chincoteague Bay Field Station

Shippensburg University is proud to offer opportunities for students to enhance their learning through field studies in a range of disciplines. A unique cooperative agreement between Shippensburg University and other Colleges and Universities, allows Ship to offer educational, research, and service experiences at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station of the Marine Science Consortium (MSC) located at Wallops Island, Virginia. The Chincoteague Bay Field Station (CBFS) is a nonprofit organization operated in collaboration with the member institutions.  The consortium's campus is located adjacent to Chincoteague Bay, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, the Assateague National Seashore, and NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility in Accomack County, VA. The facilities and field station staff help provide numerous and growing opportunities for research and study in a wide range of disciplines including science (computer science/engineering, geology, geography, earth science, ecology, chemistry, and biology), humanities, and even social sciences.  So if you are interested in terrestrial, estuarine, salt marsh and normal marine environments or in the impact of storms, or the people who live, work, and play on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland... this will be a great place for you to learn and grow. 

Primary facilities at the CBFS campus include a LEEDS-certified education and research center that is outfitted with biology, geology, and chemistry laboratories, as well as a number of classrooms, a computer lab, and administrative offices. Other lab spaces are available in other buildings and a new cafeteria, several equipment rooms, an outdoor aqua lab, plus housing for several hundred students (Pre-College and College) and faculty are also available on site. The field station also owns a 30 acre salt marsh that fronts on Chincoteague Bay and is fast becoming a principle research and education site for faculty, staff, and students. This has been facilitated by a recent grant from the Toyota Foundation's Together Green grant program to initiate living shoreline projects. For more information on this check out the website details here.

In addition to facilities, there are also three research vessels owned by the MSC. They range in length from 38'-50' and are used for educational and research purposes both inshore, or in the case of the R.V. Parker, and offshore investigations. A number of small out-board boats, and sea-kayaks are also available for projects near the station. The kayaks are used extensively by classes that need to go where motorized boats can't go!

With its new $15 million dollar campus, an excellently trained staff of boat captains, educators, and program facilitators, together with the collective resources of member institutions, the Chincoteague Bay Field Station is excited about its future and about having our students take advantage of the amazing experiences that take place on the coast. It's time you stepped forward to make the most of your college experience!

How can you take advantage of the Chincoteague Bay Field Station?

You can make use of this amazing resource in one of three ways.

• 1) Take courses here at Ship that include field experiences at Wallops Island and the Marine Science Consortium
  • Contact Dr. Nathan Thomas in the Biology Department
  • Dr. Sean Cornell, in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences.
    

    

• 2) Design and develop a faculty-student research project or service learning experience that takes advantage of these facilities and/or the surrounding Delmarva region.
   
• 3) Take summer courses at Wallops, enroll for a summer class and receive credit for all courses on your Shippensburg University Transcript.  If you are interested in a specific course at the CBFS, please notify Dr. Cornell or Dr. Thomas and they will follow-up with you.  If you already know you want to take a class, then go ahead and register through the CBFS website and instructions provided there.  Once you have secured a seat in a course, and are notified by the faculty member, you will then be asked to register for the course according to either Ship's enrollment instructions, or the instructions of the university teaching the course. 

What courses are available summer 2015?

The course offerings, course schedule, and course descriptions for the current year are posted on the CBFS website.  This summer Coastal Herpetology and Coastal Environmental Oceanography (Florida Edition) are both taught by Shippensburg Faculty and are listed on the Shippensburg University Summer Course Offerings. If you would like to take a course not taught by Shippensburg Faculty, you can still receive credit and a grade for the course.  You need to register for that course through the University who is teaching that class (see instructions below).   

Summer Course Registration Procedures

For courses offered at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station, the registration process depends on which university you attend and the university that is offering the course you are interested in. 

IF YOU ARE A SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY STUDENT.

• Step 1a: You should consult with Dr. Thomas or Dr. Cornell to discuss your interests, eligibility, course offerings etc. (See contact information at the bottom of this page).
• Step 1b: It is recommended that you declare your interest in taking a class by completing the registration process on the CBFS website.  You will have to pay a deposit for each course you register for in order to ensure you will have housing and a space in the course.  Once you have a space in the course, you will be eligible to officially register for the credit hours according to the procedure outlined below.
• Step 2a: If you want to take a Shippensburg University class, utilize the Banner System when it opens and you can register for the credits as you would for any other summer class taught at Shippensburg.  As long as there are available seats and you meet all of the required prerequisites (if any) and you are willing to provide your own transportation to the CBFS at Wallops Island where the courses will take place, you may register for the course. Again talking to Dr. Thomas or Dr. Cornell is advised to avoid any confusion or complications.  
• Step 2b: If you want to take a course taught by faculty from another CBFS university, you must register and pay for those credits through that university following their registration process.  See the instructions on the CBFS - college section website.   
• Step 3: If you are taking a Shippensburg course, you will have to pay your tuition bill for the course credits to Shippensburg University Student Accounts by the posted deadline.  Failure to pay the tuition by the deadline could jeopardize your seat in the course.
• Step 4: Remember that you MUST pay two bills - one to the university for the course credits and one to the field station for the housing, meals, and bench/boat fees.  In order to hold your space you must pay a $100.00 deposit toward the cost of housing, meals, and equipment/laboratory fees. This reservation must be submitted to the field station before you officially have a seat in any course.  
• Step 5: Make sure you pay the remainder of the housing/meals/equipment fees in advance of your course by the deadline established by the field station.  Failure to pay your balance will result in expulsion from the course and will result in a forfeiture of any deposit paid.  Housing in the new residence hall is air-conditioned, but often fill up quickly so if you want housing in the new residence hall, you must act quickly.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT AT ANOTHER PASSHE UNIVERSITY INTERESTED IN TAKING A SHIPPENSBURG CBFS COURSE

• Step 1a: You may want to consult with Dr. Thomas or Dr. Cornell to discuss your interests, eligibility, course offerings etc. (See contact information at the bottom of the page).
• Step 1b: It is recommended that you declare your interest in taking a class by completing the registration process on the CBFS website.  You will have to pay a deposit for each course you register for in order to ensure you will have housing and a space in the course.  Once you have a space in the course, you will be eligible to officially register for the credit hours according to the procedure outlined below.  Seating is first come first served and SU will register students according to the order in which paperwork is received until all available seats are filled.
• Step 2: You will need to complete all parts of the PASSHE Visiting Student Form ( available here) in consultation with the academic advisor at your university.  It will need to be signed by your University's Registrar (or their designee) and then returned to the Shippensburg University Registrar's Office by your Registrar.   Submission of the Visiting Student Form will be used to aid in registration for the appropriate course.
• Step 3: Complete the Shippensburg University Non-Degree Application ( available here - click on To Enroll In a Class) and submit it as per instructions on the website.
• Step 4: Upon acceptance of your Non-Degree Student Application, you will be notified of your registration status and will be provided with an email account.  Your Visiting Student Form will be required if you want the grade and credit transferred back to your home university. 
• Step 5: You will need to check your University email (Shippensburg University email) and pay the tuition for the appropriate number of credits and fees to Shippensburg University Student Accounts by the posted deadline.  Failure to pay the tuition by the deadline will jeopardize your seat in the course.   Remember this information will be available through your SHIP email.
• Step 6: Complete the housing and food reservation form as required by the field station.  Your reservation MUST contain a $100.00 deposit toward the cost of housing, meals, and equipment/laboratory fees. This must be submitted as soon as possible to accommodate your housing preference during the summer.
• Step 7:  Make sure you pay the remainder of the housing/meals/equipment fees in advance of your course by the deadline established by the field station.  Failure to pay your balance will result in expulsion from your course.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT OUTSIDE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

• Step 1a: You should consult with Dr. Thomas or Dr. Cornell to discuss your interests, eligibility, course offerings etc. (See contact information at the bottom of this page). 
• Step 1b:  It is recommended that you declare your interest in taking a class by completing the registration process on the CBFS website.  You will have to pay a deposit for each course you register for in order to ensure you will have housing and a space in the course.  Once you have a space in the course, you will be eligible to officially register for the credit hours according to the procedure outlined below.  Seating is first come first served and SU will register students according to the order in which paperwork is received until all available seats are filled.
• Step 2: If you are not enrolled at a PASSHE school and plan to take a course at Shippensburg University, you will need to complete the appropriate transfer of credit form at your home university and submit it to the Registrar at both your home University as well as Shippensburg University prior to registration.  
•  Step 3: Complete the Shippensburg University Non-Degree Application ( available here - click on To Enroll In a Class) and submit it as per instructions on the website.
• Step 4: Upon acceptance of your Non-Degree Student Application, you will be notified of your registration status and will be provided with an email account.  Your Visiting Student Form will be required if you want the grade and credit transferred back to your home university. 
• Step 5: You will need to check your University email (Shippensburg University email) and pay the tuition for the appropriate number of credits and fees to Shippensburg University Student Accounts by the posted deadline.  Failure to pay the tuition by the deadline will jeopardize your seat in the course.   Remember this information will be available through your SHIP email.
• Step 6: Complete the housing and food reservation form as required by the field station.  Your reservation MUST contain a $100.00 deposit toward the cost of housing, meals, and equipment/laboratory fees. This must be submitted as soon as possible to accommodate your housing preference during the summer.
• Step 7:  Make sure you pay the remainder of the housing/meals/equipment fees in advance of your course by the deadline established by the field station.  Failure to pay your balance will result in expulsion from your course.
    

What are the on site field station fees and the course credit rates for 2015?

Tuition and fees for Shippensburg University are listed on the following website: http://www.ship.edu/Student_Accounts/Summer_Semester_Tuition/ .  

• Tuition is $284.00 per credit hour or $852.00 for a 3 credit course.
• Some applicable fees are also included, as outlined at the website above.
• Note: Some Fees are waived for off-campus courses, so make sure you double check as to which fees are waived.
• • Please Note: Entire balance must be paid to Student Accounts prior to taking part in a CBFS course.
   

Additional notes about CBFS Course Fees 

• Summer 2015 course fees at the CBFS will depend on the course and duration of the course.  Typical 3-week courses have a fee of $870.00.  Specific fees for each course are included in the fee schedule as noted on the CBFS website.
• Remember $100 is due immediately to hold your space in the course when you register your interest. The remaining $770 will be billed to you via email in the spring.
  Note... If you are unable to pay the full course fee prior to the start of the course, you may apply for deferred payment. A guarantor is required. Additional fees may apply.
• Your payment to the field station, includes:
  • all meals (3 meals per day M-F; Meals on Sat. & Sun. will be a modest charge if taken on campus; Most students choose to eat weekend meals offsite at restaurants of their choice),
  • housing,
  • equipment,
  • boat use,
  • transportation
• Additional fees apply for any courses where there is travel away from the field station (i.e. Coral Reef Ecology, Coastal Environmental Oceanography, Marine Mammals).  These fees pay for the additional travel expenses to Roatan, the Keys Marine Lab in Florida, and elsewhere.  For specific costs for these classes, contact the field station directly. 
• Lastly, some courses have shorter stays at the MSC, and therefore course fees are somewhat lower, again as noted on the course fee schedule above.  This often includes Intro to GIS at the consortium.

Financial aid?

Financial aid can be applied to summer courses at the field station, as long as you register for at least 6.0 credits in the summer (whether here at Ship or at a partner University).  You can ask for aid to cover the tuition and fees for the credit hours as well as books, housing, meals, and equipment fees.  It is your responsibility to check with the Financial Aid Office for further details and instructions.  If you are not eligible for federal aid, you still may qualify for student loans to cover your summer course expenses.

Who to contact for questions?

If you have any problems, please feel free to contact: