- Gradstudents - mailman.cs.vt.edu

Ananya Prakash's Master's thesis defense: 4/14 at 10:00am
by Seyam, Mohammed 12 Apr '25

12 Apr '25

Greetings! You're cordially invited to the Master's thesis defense of Ananya Prakash. Title: Identifying, Measuring, and Addressing Algorithmic Bias in AI Admission Systems for Graduate Education Date: Monday, April 14, 2025 Time: 10:00am Location: 1100 Torgersen Hall Committee members: Mohammed Seyam (Chair), Chris Brown, Mohammed Farghally Abstract: The number of graduate students has been increasing rapidly to meet industry demands, with over 200% increase in competitive fields like Computer Science (CS) in the past decade. Several universities have adopted AI in their admissions processes for various tasks such as evaluating transcripts, extracting important information from essays, and scoring applications. While AI can greatly increase the efficiency of processing a large volume of applications, it is prone to data and algorithmic bias, which can lead to unfair outcomes for underprivileged subgroups among applicants. Recent changes in legislation such as the ban of affirmative action by the U.S. Supreme Court make it increasingly relevant to study the demographic composition of admitted students and ensure that we develop fair machine learning systems. We present a comprehensive two-phase methodology for detecting and mitigating algorithmic bias. Through analysis of graduate admissions data of the Computer Science department of a large R1 university, we found significant post-ban demographic shifts, including decreased applications from underrepresented groups and a 66% increase in applicants declining to report race post the affirmative action ban. Our preemptive bias detection phase includes exploratory data analysis, clustering, and subgroup discovery to identify both independent and intersectional sources of bias, revealing significant disparities based on citizenship status, gender and race. We then developed and evaluated a neural network model using fairness metrics, discovering substantial bias amplification for gender and citizenship status. Our fairness evaluation and bias correction phase demonstrated that preprocessing and postprocessing mitigation techniques could significantly improve fairness metrics, though with varying effectiveness across different protected attributes. SHAP analysis confirmed that while academic metrics like GPA remained the strongest predictors, demographic features substantially influenced model decisions even after mitigation. This work provides a systematic framework for institutions seeking to implement fair AI admissions systems while navigating new legal constraints on affirmative action, emphasizing the importance of proactive bias detection and mitigation to maintain diversity in higher education. Mohammed Seyam<https://website.cs.vt.edu/people/faculty/mohammed-seyam.html>, PhD Collegiate Associate Professor Coordinator for Experiential Learning<https://xl.vt.edu/> Department of Computer Science<http://cs.vt.edu/> Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VirginiaTech<http://www.vt.edu/>). Website<https://cs.vt.edu/people/faculty/mohammed-seyam.html>|LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/msseyam/>|Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MSSeyam>

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CS Graduate Updates & Reminders – Spring & Fall 2025
by Coulson, Sara 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

Dear CS Graduate Students, Please take a moment to review the following important updates, reminders, and upcoming deadlines for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025. Spring 2025 Reminders Graduate Course Withdrawal Deadline – May 2 To withdraw from a course, both the student and the course instructor must sign the Course Withdrawal Request before submitting it via the CS Graduate Form Submission Portal<https://usc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1&ui=…>. Graduation Celebration – RSVP Now! The Spring 2025 Graduation Celebration for Computer Science graduate students (Blacksburg campus) is coming up! Please RSVP here<https://usc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1&ui=…>. Commencement 2025 - For all things related to Commencement 2025, please refer to the Commencement website<https://usc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1&ui=…>. *If you are an international student, you may generate an invitation letter for family members seeking visitor visas after submitting your Application for Degree and completing the Commencement Attendance Form. This request form is available through HokieSpa under the Graduate Student Degree Menu. Fall 2025 Information & Deadlines Fall Course Request Ends Today – April 8 Make any final updates to your Fall 2025 course request<https://onecampus.vt.edu/task/all/course-request-043439> by the end of the day today. Add/Drop Opens – April 25 Graduate students may add or drop courses from April 25 through August 29 (last day for a 100% refund). For more key dates, visit the Academic Calendar<https://usc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/wordeditorframe.aspx?new=1&ui=…>. New Advisor-Specific Sections of CS 5994 & CS 7994 Beginning Fall 2025, each faculty member will have a dedicated section of: * CS 5994: Research and Thesis (MS) * CS 7994: Research and Dissertation (PhD) Be sure to register for your advisor’s specific section. If you do not yet have an advisor, please register for the following: * MS Students – CRN 83780 – CS 5994 * PhD Students – CRN 83791 – CS 7994 Fall GTA Applications – Priority Deadline: May 2 If you're interested in a GTA position, be sure to apply<https://hosting.cs.vt.edu/gta/> by the priority deadline. Even if you have a funding guarantee, you still need to apply! New MS and PhD Plans of Study formats We’re transitioning away from PDFs! The CS Grad Office is trying a new format for the MS, MS Along the Way, Accelerated MS, and PhD degrees. All plan of study forms are available on the Forms<https://website.cs.vt.edu/Graduate/Forms.html> section of the cs.vt.edu. Submit your plan of study to the CS Graduate Form Submission Portal<https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hGiVYK0Q-kCGPU8yweOjegs…> If you have suggestions for improving the templates, please email Sara at scoulson1(a)vt.edu<mailto:scoulson1@vt.edu> Sincerely, Sara Sara Coulson Director of Graduate Programs | Computer Science Torgersen 3210C 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061

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Seminars for April 7-11
by Zier, Debbie 07 Apr '25

07 Apr '25

I'm sorry, I think I forgot to forward this to you all last week. Collegiate Faculty Seminars Scheduled for April 7-11 All seminars will be from 9:00 - 10:00am in 1100 Torgersen Hall (I included the zoom link for today, since I didn't send this on Friday) Monday, April 7: Kirsten Reynolds Seminar: Cybersecurity Cyberwarriors and Citizens *Kirsten has asked that her seminar not be published, so I have attached the flyer with her abstract* Join Seminar via Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/89518364516?pwd=avXKOSRZWklFr4psYezIjKbVVAIy… Meeting ID: 895 1836 4516 | Passcode: 384667 Thursday, April 10: Javier Tibau Seminar: Designing for Connection and Relationships at a Distance<https://website.cs.vt.edu/research/Seminars/Javier_Tibau.html> Friday, April 11: Vanessa Cedeno-Mieles Seminar: Pipelines for Computational Social Science Experiments and Model Building: Exemplars of Mechanistic and Data-Driven Models to Explain Human Behavior<https://website.cs.vt.edu/research/Seminars/Vanessa_Cedeno-Mieles.html> _________________ Debbie Zier Executive Assistant and Office Manager Department of Computer Science (0106) 1180 Torgersen Hall 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-1369 [cid:image001.jpg@01DBA796.0A834670]

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Reminder: Seminar this morning at 9:00am in 1100 Torgersen
by Zier, Debbie 07 Apr '25

07 Apr '25

Monday, April 7: Kirsten Reynolds Seminar: Cybersecurity Cyberwarriors and Citizens *Kirsten has asked that her seminar not be published, so I have attached the flyer with her abstract* Join Seminar via Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/89518364516?pwd=avXKOSRZWklFr4psYezIjKbVVAIy… Meeting ID: 895 1836 4516 | Passcode: 384667 _________________ Debbie Zier Executive Assistant and Office Manager Department of Computer Science (0106) 1180 Torgersen Hall 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-1369 [cid:image001.jpg@01DBA795.8DF60D40]

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Student Activity Reports (SAR) due on Monday, April 7th
by Eli Tilevich 04 Apr '25

04 Apr '25

Dear all, This is a friendly reminder that Student Activity Reports (SARs) for all M.S. and Ph.D. students are due on Monday, April 7th. How do I access my SAR? https://gpc.cs.vt.edu/#/sar What happens if I don't submit my SAR? Please note that failure to submit the SAR will render students ineligible for Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) positions. The SAR is a vital tool for tracking student progress and maintaining eligibility for continued funding. Thank you for your participation in this important annual evaluation process! Dr. T. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Eli Tilevich, Ph.D. Professor and Associate Dept. Head for Graduate Studies Gilbert Place #4204 Dept. of Computer Science Virginia Tech Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/my/tilevich (540) 231-3475 http://people.cs.vt.edu/~tilevich

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FW: Free Food & Beverages | Dr. Anish Poudel from MxV Rail | AREMA at VT Speaker Event | April 23 | RSVP Link Provided
by Kinder-Potter, Sharon 04 Apr '25

04 Apr '25

From: Cloyd, Renee <rcloyd(a)vt.edu> Sent: Friday, April 4, 2025 3:00 PM To: coe-grad-coordinators-g(a)vt.edu Cc: Vick, Linda <lvick(a)vt.edu>; Troutt, Hannah <htroutt(a)vt.edu>; Deisher, Sarah <murfvt(a)vt.edu>; Kumar, Nikhil <nikhilk22(a)vt.edu> Subject: FW: Free Food & Beverages | Dr. Anish Poudel from MxV Rail | AREMA at VT Speaker Event | April 23 | RSVP Link Provided All, With permission from the hosts, please share this opportunity with your graduate and undergraduate students. Thank you, Renee From: Kumar, Nikhil <nikhilk22(a)vt.edu<mailto:nikhilk22@vt.edu>> Sent: Friday, April 4, 2025 2:40 PM To: Hill, Cathy <hillcath(a)vt.edu<mailto:hillcath@vt.edu>>; Cloyd, Renee <rcloyd(a)vt.edu<mailto:rcloyd@vt.edu>> Cc: Ahmadian, Mehdi <ahmadian(a)vt.edu<mailto:ahmadian@vt.edu>>; Kirby, Yates <yates22(a)vt.edu<mailto:yates22@vt.edu>> Subject: Free Food & Beverages | Dr. Anish Poudel from MxV Rail | AREMA at VT Speaker Event | April 23 | RSVP Link Provided Dear Cathy and Renee, Could you please share the poster and event invite below with your counterparts in other engineering departments? Also, if you could publish this poster on the SharePoint website, it will be extremely helpful. Thank you for your help with this. Best, Nikhil Dear All, The AREMA Student Chapter at Virginia Tech is excited to invite you to a special speaker event featuring Dr. Anish Poudel, Scientist at MxV Rail, on Tuesday, April 23rd, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in Norris 229. Students from across the engineering realm are welcome!! Dr. Poudel brings over 15 years of extensive experience in Nondestructive Evaluation/Testing (NDE/NDT) for railroad and aerospace applications. He currently serves as a fellow of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) and actively contributes to the AREMA National community. His insights will be especially valuable to students interested in applied research, safety, and technology in the rail sector. This event offers a unique opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students to: * Learn about MxV Rail, one of the leading research and testing facilities in the U.S. * Understand potential internship and career opportunities at MxV Rail. * Discover the research and development projects in NDE, infrastructure monitoring, data analytics, and more. * Get a glimpse into the corporate R&D landscape and how companies like MxV Rail are critical in steering innovations within the railroad industry. Whether you're exploring career paths, planning your next internship, or simply curious about the work behind rail safety and inspection systems, this talk is for you. [:pizza:] Food and beverages will be provided, courtesy of the VT-AREMA Student Chapter. RSVP Below: https://forms.office.com/r/FvYK2QGLpg We look forward to seeing you there! Best regards, VT AREMA Student Chapter -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "COE Grad Coordinators" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coe-grad-coordinators-g+unsubscribe(a)vt.edu<mailto:coe-grad-coordinators-g+unsubscribe@vt.edu>. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/msgid/coe-grad-coordinators-g/MN2PR05M…<https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/msgid/coe-grad-coordinators-g/MN2PR05M…>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/a/vt.edu/d/optout.

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Call for Nominations: 2025-26 CS Graduate Council
by Woo, Wesley 03 Apr '25

03 Apr '25

Dear graduate students, On behalf of the CS Graduate Council, I'm excited to announce that it’s time for the election of new officers for the 2025-2026 academic year! Grad Council is a great opportunity to showcase your leadership and dedication to service. Personally, as a PhD student interested in pursuing a career in academia, serving on the Grad Council has also offered the unique opportunity to learn more about the decision-making and processes that the department undertakes to make teaching and research happen at the university. If you know someone who would make a great CS Grad Counciler, or you yourself are (even vaguely) interested in serving on Grad Council for the next academic year, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/J1ukZ7JUfRNyzNwh6 Nominations will be open for the next two weeks (i.e. submit the nomination form by April 10th, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT). Self nominations are welcome and encouraged! After nominations close, I'll reach out to the nominees to confirm interest in running and ask for a short blurb about why they are interested in running for a position. The various officer roles are listed below: President The President is the head of the GC. The President’s responsibilities include but are not limited to: chairing GC meetings every two weeks; preparing the agenda for GC meetings; governing any committees formed by the GC, including nominating the chairs thereof, organizing Graduate Recruiting Weekend, and attending departmental meetings. The President is required to have two years remaining in their degree program at the time of election (the term and the following year). Vice President The Vice-President is responsible for keeping the GC operating smoothly, including but not limited to: supporting the President’s handling of the GC affairs; serving as the chair of GC meetings when the President is absent; taking on the role of the President in the event of the President’s departure from the Graduate Council, planning 1-2 events per semester, helping to organize Graduate Recruiting Weekend, and attending departmental meetings. The Vice President is required to have two years remaining in their degree program at the time of election (the term and the following year). Treasurer The Treasurer is responsible for fiscal matters, including but not limited to: documenting and publicizing processes for reimbursement, e.g., the Travel Fund; ensuring these processes are followed appropriately; regular reporting of the status of the treasury at GC meetings. The Treasurer is expected to attend GC meetings every two weeks, plan 1-2 events per semester, contribute to Graduate Recruiting Weekend, and attend departmental meetings. The Treasurer is required to have one year remaining in their degree program at the time of election (their full term). Secretary The Secretary is responsible for the communications of the GC, including but not limited to: publishing the meeting agenda prior to GC meetings; managing, publishing, archiving, and seeking approval for the meeting minutes; chairing committees related to preparing new governing documents; facilitating communication between the GC and internal and external parties, e.g. the CS graduate student body and the CS faculty. The Secretary is expected to attend GC meetings every two weeks, plan 1-2 events per semester, contribute to Graduate Recruiting Weekend, and attend departmental meetings. The Secretary is required to have one year remaining in their degree program at the time of election (their full term). MEng Representative The MEng Representative is responsible for representing the needs of the MEng students to the GC. The MEng Representative is expected to attend GC meetings every two weeks, represent the interests of the MEng students to the GC, and plan 1 event per semester. The MEng Representative is recommended to have already spent one semester in their degree program. The term for this position is two semesters (Fall 2024 - Spring 2025) YFNCSGCP, Wesley

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Fw: GPSS Meeting | April 3 | Announcements
by Moussad, Bernard 02 Apr '25

02 Apr '25

Hi everyone, Just a heads up we have a GPSS meeting tomorrow (April 3) at 5:30 pm! It will be a long meeting so don't feel obligated to stay the whole time if you do come. Also, there will be a livestream of the town hall on Friday for those interested in seeing what topics are brought up in regards to the changes of VT's DEI policies. Last, there a few upcoming events (some with food) so feel free to sign up. Read below for more information. I hope you're all having a good semester and getting some time to enjoy the more temperate weather lately. Sincerely, Bernard Moussad PhD student CS@VT Phone: 256-668-7571 Website: Bernym12.github.io<https://bernym12.github.io/> ________________________________ From: Mondal, Ronnie <mondal(a)vt.edu> Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 8:15 PM To: Graduate and Professional Student Senate <gpss-resc(a)vt.edu> Subject: [GPSS Senators] GPSS Meeting | April 3 | Announcements Dear Senators, I hope everyone is having a great Spring semester. Please see GPSS-related announcements below and share this email with your constituents. Next GPSS Meeting: April 3 (Thursday) from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm hybrid in the GLC MPR and over Zoom. The open forum runs from 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm. Zoom Link<https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0oduGprj8oHdZKaxJ6rzXPYMSni…> Sign-In Link<https://forms.office.com/r/usH3zuMu0S> (Meeting Agenda attached). About the townhall – we had a total of 13 respondents, so I sent that list. I’ve also let the students know that they’re going. For the rest of the community, I’ll send out the livestream link soon. We will be having a VERY LONG next meeting – so please be prepared!! I will bring my gavel, and we will follow Robert’s Rules as closely as possible to ensure we finish before 7 PM. Meeting Outline – We will have a presentation about the Grad School Strategic Plan (preliminary discussion attached), followed by a visit from the Dean (Aimee Surprenant). We will also have a GSBB Policy Read (draft attached) and CGPSA 2024-25B First Reading (attached), followed by election pitches from candidates. If we have time after all this, we can use that to talk about the next steps from the BOV meeting. Announcements: 1. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education (SVPE), along with our campus partners, invites you to participate in a series of events throughout this month. If you attend at least two of these events, you’ll be entered to win an SVPE gift basket. Upcoming Events: April 17 – Healing is Not Linear: Craft & Chat | 5–6:30 PM | Pride Center April 23 – Survivor Picnic & Floristry | 12–2 PM | Drillfield April 24 – Let’s Talk About Conflict Workshop | 5–6 PM | Cranwell April 30 – Denim Day Crafting | 5:30–6:30 PM | Women’s Center 1. APRIL LUNCH CONVERSATION with Dean Suprenant: Friday, April 18, 12-1pm, GLC Meeting Room RSVP<https://forms.office.com/r/AuEW325RLT>. Join us for a casual lunch and conversation with Dean Suprenant. This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions, voice concerns, and discuss topics that matter most to you! Lunch will be provided, and the informal setting allows you to engage directly with the Dean and connect with fellow students. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and fostering an open dialogue. Please RSVP by April 15, 2025: https://forms.office.com/r/AuEW325RLT 1. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: LABOR RIGHTS Monday, April 14, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Meeting Room F. Hybrid. Dinner is provided! GPSS, Cranwell International Center, The APIDA + Center, and The Graduate School are partnering to host a KYR session on graduate students' labor rights. This event will explore the rights and protections that graduate students have in the workplace, in part-time jobs, assistantships, or internships. Learn how to advocate for fair treatment and hear from experts who will provide guidance on navigating labor laws as a graduate student employee. Please register at the link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pc5lPQtlQ7WbghfUvNzp5g See you on Thursday! Ronnie ------- [signature_4202630925] Ronnie Mondal PhD Candidate, Chemistry President, GPSS<http://gpss.vt.edu/> | gpss(a)vt.edu<mailto:gpss@vt.edu> CGSS<mailto:cgss-g@vt.edu>, GHS<https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/expectations/graduate-honor-system.…> | 420 Davidson Hall Get in Touch with the GPSS<https://forms.office.com/r/JbGR3r5nku>

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FW: Know Your Rights: Graduate Student Labor Rights KYR Session, etc.
by Kinder-Potter, Sharon 02 Apr '25

02 Apr '25

Announcements: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: LABOR RIGHTS Monday, April 14, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Meeting Room F. Dinner is provided! Cranwell International Center, The APIDA + Center, GPSS, and The Graduate School are partnering to host a KYR session on graduate students' labor rights. This event will explore the rights and protections that students have in the workplace, in part-time jobs, internships, or assistantships. Learn how to advocate for fair treatment and hear from experts who will provide guidance on navigating labor laws as a graduate student employee. Please register at the link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pc5lPQtlQ7WbghfUvNzp5g [cid:image001.jpg@01DBA3A1.689774A0] CUPCAKE DECORATING WORKSHOP! Wednesday, April 2, 5-7:30pm, GLC Multipurpose Room Join GPSS and SECL for a graduate student-focused cupcake decorating workshop! Learn various techniques from Virginia Tech Dining Services as they guide you through a few practice cupcakes before you complete some of your own with a fun spring theme! All supplies included. Limited to 80 students. Doors open at 5 pm and the workshop starts at 5:30 pm. First come first served - be sure to get there early to claim a spot! [cid:image002.jpg@01DBA3A1.689774A0]

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CS Graduate Program Newsletter: April Edition
by Dr. Eli Tilevich 01 Apr '25

01 Apr '25

Dear all, We are excited to share the April edition of the Computer Science Graduate Program Newsletter, a monthly publication of the Graduate Program Office. Best regards, Dr. T. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Eli Tilevich, Ph.D. Professor and Associate Dept. Head for Graduate Studies Gilbert Place #4204 Dept. of Computer Science Virginia Tech Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/my/tilevich (540) 231-3475 http://people.cs.vt.edu/~tilevich Office hours: Monday/Tuesday 3 to 4pm in-person and on Zoom

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