1) Mac 101: How to integrate a Mac into a Windows environment...

Just turn it on, your Mac will know what to do.

All joking aside it should be pretty effortless. Let me know if there are any specifics issues/software you'd like help handling or setting up.

2) Specifically, I have a user who will need to access shared drives on specific Windows servers. That's one thing I can think of off the top. The rest will come later when I try secure it.

3) If your Windows Server sharing is already configured then do the following.

In Finder, on the Mac. (Finder is like Windows Explorer, it's the first icon in your dock on your Mac)
1) Select the Windows server name from the Places list in the left column.
2) Click the "Connect As..." button in the top right corner of the Finder window once it starts connecting. You will be prompted for the Windows server credentials, enter them, click Connect.

It should automatically connect you to the server/share at that point. You can configure this to connect automatically on boot with a little more effort. But each time you boot the Mac after the initial log in you should only have to click on the server in the left hand column under Places. The Mac will remember your credentials.

4) soundchick, here is a great link for you:

http://www.macwindows.com/Win2003.html