July 2020 - New-gradstudents - mailman.cs.vt.edu

GRA opportunities
by Cliff Shaffer 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

See attached for GRA opportunities offered for this Fall by Dr. Lou. -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Fwd: For incoming grad students: Upcoming Unix/Git/Python/R Workshops
by Cliff Shaffer 21 Jul '20

21 Jul '20

*From: *Nathaniel Porter <ndporter(a)vt.edu> *Date: *Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 11:02 AM *To: *Library List <librarylist-g(a)vt.edu>, Digital Humanities and Social Sciences <digitalhumanities-g(a)vt.edu> *Subject: *Upcoming Unix/Git/Python/R Workshops Dear Library and DH Colleagues, The University Libraries, in partnership with the Data & Decisions Destination Area, would like to announce a new initiative to help incoming graduate and professional students get a head start on coding and data skills for their research through Software Carpentry workshops. Each two-day workshop covers the basics of working with the command prompt, version control and programming in either Python or R and is designed to be an interactive introduction with no experience necessary. Workshops will take place online the weeks of August 3 and August 17. Registration and details at https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/calendar/events/. Anyone (faculty, students, staff, community) can participate but we particularly encourage you to share with new students and students in methodology courses that may benefit from these skills. It's a great way to gain the skills and confidence you need to hit the ground running. Please share widely with your departments and contacts, and feel free to reach out to Data Education Coordinator Nathaniel Porter (ndporter(a)vt.edu) with questions. A model blurb for email newsletters is also included below the signature for those who prefer that format. Sincerely, Dr. Nathaniel D. Porter (he/him/his) Social Science Data Consultant <https://informaticslab.lib.vt.edu/consultants/> (Qualitative/Quantitative/Network/Big Data) Data Education <https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/calendar?cid=10680&t=d&d=0000-00-00&cal=10680&c…> Coordinator Virginia Tech <https://vt.edu/> University Libraries <https://lib.vt.edu/> VT Representative to: ICPSR <https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/>, QDR <https://qdr.syr.edu/> & Roper Center <https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/> archives ndporter(a)vt.edu Schedule a consultation via email or self-schedule online <https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/appointments/ndporter> --------- Free Online Workshops - Introductory Programming and Data Skills with Unix, Git, Python and R Get a jump start before classes start on learning the programming, version control and data skills you need for your classes and research with a two-day online Software Carpentry <https://software-carpentry.org/workshops/> workshop through the University Libraries! Workshops will take place the weeks of August 3rd and August 17th and involve interactive hands-on instruction by certified trainers with no experience necessary. We will cover foundations of working with the command prompt (Bash/Unix), version control (Git) and programming in either Python or R. Find out more and sign up at https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/calendar/events/. For questions or additional information, email Data Education Coordinator Nathaniel Porter ( ndporter(a)vt.edu). --------- -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Fwd: [Gradstudents] Tapia 2020: Apply now for CS@VT-funded scholarships!
by Cliff Shaffer 20 Jul '20

20 Jul '20

Forwarding, since I have not quite gotten to integrating my various listservs. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Mohammed Seyam via bburg-gradstudents <bburg-gradstudents(a)cs.vt.edu> Date: Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 9:00 AM Subject: [Gradstudents] Tapia 2020: Apply now for CS@VT-funded scholarships! To: <cs-undg-g(a)vt.edu>, <gradstudents(a)cs.vt.edu> Greetings! The ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing is a unique annual event where CS students, professionals, academics, and industry experts come together to celebrate diversity in our field. This year, Tapia is going virtual, and it is scheduled for September 16-19, 2020. CS@VT is a Gold Sponsor for the conference, and it is offering a number of * scholarships* to attend the conference this year. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from and interact with exceptional individuals who are all about embracing our differences and supporting CS students everywhere. If you are a member of a minority and/or underrepresented group, and if you are interested in supporting diversity work in the CS field in general and in CS@VT in particular, this is your chance. *Apply now through this link <https://forms.gle/7n7c8JuctBXRms5t5>*, and check the conference website <http://tapiaconference.org/> for more details. *Application deadline is July 31, 2020*. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. -- *Mohammed Seyam <http://people.cs.vt.edu/seyam>, *PhD Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science <http://cs.vt.edu/> Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VirginiaTech <http://www.vt.edu/>). Website <http://people.cs.vt.edu/seyam>|LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/msseyam/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/MSSeyam> _______________________________________________ bburg-gradstudents mailing list bburg-gradstudents(a)cs.vt.edu -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Fwd: GRA for a CS student
by Cliff Shaffer 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Alejandro Salado <asalado(a)vt.edu> Date: Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 10:15 PM Subject: GRA for a CS student To: Parks, Hannah <hsswiger(a)vt.edu> Hi Hannah, I have a fully-funded GRA position for a CS student for this academic year. Could you please distribute this to their students? Some notes on the position below: - *Project:* Contribute to the development of an AI-system that supports engineers during modeling. The concept is patent pending and there is potential for commercialization. - *Preferred expertise:* Python/Jython, Object-oriented programming, inheritance, polymorphism, and Git version control. Ideally, the student has experience with GitLab and Cameo Systems Modeler. Development of expert systems or AI systems that leverage knowledge structures is an asset. - *Conditions:* Fully paid GRA for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, plus potential to attend/present at one conference. Project funded by the Naval Surface Warfare Command (NSWC) Dahlgren Division. - *Restrictions:* US citizenship required. Thanks, -- *Alejandro Salado, PhD* Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering | Co-Director Systems Engineering Program Grado Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering | Virginia Tech 217 Durham Hall | 1145 Perry St | Blacksburg VA 24061 (USA) | +1 (540)231-0483 @alejsalado <https://twitter.com/AlejSalado> | Virtual Zoom office <https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/9956887759> -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Cranwell center international town hall
by Cliff Shaffer 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

For students on student visas, this might be of use to you: https://vtnews.vt.edu/notices/international-cranwell-town-hall-july13.html -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Course registration news
by Cliff Shaffer 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

The following news article from VT might be of interest to you as you plan your course registration. Please note that the timetable update that I mentioned previously will take place at 6:00pm (VT time) this evening. https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2020/07/fall2020-course-delivery.html?utm_so… -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Re: [New-gradstudents] CS@VT New Graduate Students: Orientation information and course registration
by Cliff Shaffer 11 Jul '20

11 Jul '20

I am sorry to hear that, but I understand the difficulties that you are facing. I have asked the Grad School to process your deferral. On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 12:33 PM Svn Sai Ram <svnsairam.sakhamuri(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Goodday Mr.Cliff, > > The US embassy in India is not operational and there are very little > chances of getting the visa by 1st of August. So, I would like to defer my > admission to Fall 2021. > > Thanks and regards, > Sairam. > > > > > On Sat, 11 Jul, 2020, 8:23 PM Cliff Shaffer, <shaffer(a)vt.edu> wrote: > >> Hello! You are receiving this message because I believe that you >> have accepted admission to the Department of Computer Science at Virginia >> Tech, and that you will attend classes in Blacksburg this Fall semester. >> >> If this is incorrect, and you are *declining* admission, then please let >> me know. Please send email to grads(a)vt.edu to let the Grad School know >> as well. >> >> If you would like to *defer admission* to Spring 2021 or Fall 2021, just >> let me know and I will arrange this for you. >> >> Otherwise, welcome to our Department, and I look forward to meeting you >> in August! The purpose of this email is to give you a short orientation to >> the program, hopefully sufficient so that you can make the necessary >> decisions about Fall classes. >> >> *Email:* >> If I have both a non-VT email address and a VT email address for you, I >> temporarily added both to the listserv that I used to send this message. I >> will soon remove the non-VT email, and this is the last time that anyone >> from Virginia Tech is likely to send email to anything other than your VT >> email address. I recommend that you make sure that your VT email is being >> forwarded to wherever you regularly read your email. >> >> *Course Registration:* >> On Monday, July 13, the University Registrar's office intends to release >> an updated timetable of classes, and open registration to students. This >> updated timetable is meant to indicate the format for how each class will >> be presented, whether entirely online, in "hybrid" mode (which will include >> a face-to-face component, possibly optional), or in-person in a classroom. >> Most courses will be given either entirely online, or "hybrid" with a >> significant online component. Each hybrid course offering is a special >> case, and you will need to get details from the course instructor for >> exactly how it will operate. Since many instructors are still trying to >> figure this out, please don't send them email asking about this until at >> least mid-August. They probably won't be able to tell you much before then. >> >> Similar to most Universities, continuing students at Virginia Tech are >> given an opportunity to register for Fall classes sometime during the >> previous Spring semester. Unfortunately, that can create a situation where >> incoming students like yourself are locked out of popular courses. To keep >> that from happening, we have reduced the capacity for most graduate courses >> so that nobody can actually register for them next week. This means that we >> are holding seats in these classes, and we are giving you a way to tell me >> about your course preferences. I will then try to get everyone into their >> preferred classes, as much as possible. >> >> You will request your classes by filling out an online survey form, at: >> https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_24rrtJmfTZgOx5H >> >> You should complete this survey by Midnight (your time) on Wednesday, >> July 15. We will then work on getting you into the classes as quickly as we >> can. >> >> You can find brief course descriptions for the regular CS courses at >> https://cs.vt.edu/Graduate/Courses.html, along with information about >> which courses give credit to which degrees. You can find information about >> the special topics courses for this semester at >> http://people.cs.vt.edu/barnette/grad/courses/. >> >> >> Note that once class capacities have been reset to their maximums, you >> can then use the online system to change your courses just like the >> continuing students. So if you don't get what you want, or if you change >> your plans, you can hopefully adjust your courses through the regular >> drop/add process. The last resort is to ask the instructor to "force add" >> you to the course. *Do not send email to any instructor asking them to >> do this prior to the first day of class! *The normal process is that >> they will collect a list of everyone who wants to get in, and somehow >> decide who they can accommodate. Asking before the first day of class will >> just waste their time and yours. >> >> *Orientation Information:* >> I will be giving an online orientation session for all new graduate >> students on Wednesday, August 19, probably from 2-4pm. We had hoped to do >> this at least optionally in-person, but the University is going to be >> rearranging furniture in all the large classrooms that week in preparation >> for the start of the semester. So we were unable to get the meeting room >> >> But to get you started, I will give you some introductory orientation >> information right now, hopefully enough to pick your classes. For >> information about the credit requirements for your degree, please review >> the appropriate page linked from https://cs.vt.edu/Graduate/Degrees.html. >> >> Technically, full-time enrollment is 9 credits. But all students who >> intend to be full-time (especially students on student visa) should always >> maintain at least 12 credits each semester. Now, a full course load at the >> graduate level is typically viewed as follows: >> Master of Engineering students: 3 or 4 regular courses >> MS/PhD students not on assistantship: 3 regular courses >> MS/PhD students on assistantship (GTA or GRA): You may take at most 2 >> regular courses. >> >> By "regular course" I mean a standard 3-credit course, regardless of the >> level or department. This does not include CS5944 graduate seminar (for >> MS/PhD students), or CS5994 or CS7994 research credits. >> >> For MEng students (since this is a coursework-only track), things are >> pretty straightforward: You can be full time just by taking enough courses. >> Unless you have an undergraduate major or minor in CS, you probably will >> take CS5040 as one of your classes in the first semester. >> >> MS/PhD students should never be taking 4 courses in a semester, and so >> cannot reach "full time" status from courses alone. So how do you satisfy >> the full-time credit requirements? First, you will probably take CS5944 >> Graduate Seminar each semester in your first year. But that is only one >> credit. So the main way to fill out your schedule is with CS5994 or CS7994 >> research hours as needed. You do not need to do any specific work related >> to these credits, they are primarily used to fill out your schedule. Most >> MS/PhD students end up with far more of these research hours than they will >> need. >> >> Special note: CS5994 and CS7994 research hours are not considered >> "online" credits. If you are on a student visa, and have no other way to >> satisfy the requirement of taking at least 3 credits of non-online courses, >> you should be able to make arrangements with your research advisor to >> satisfy the requirement using CS5994 or CS7994 credits as appropriate. But >> unless you are in this special situation, don't worry about it. >> >> -- >> Cliff Shaffer >> Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies >> Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 >> Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer >> _______________________________________________ >> New-gradstudents mailing list >> New-gradstudents(a)cs.vt.edu >> https://mailman.cs.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/new-gradstudents >> > -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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CS@VT New Graduate Students: Orientation information and course registration
by Cliff Shaffer 11 Jul '20

11 Jul '20

Hello! You are receiving this message because I believe that you have accepted admission to the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech, and that you will attend classes in Blacksburg this Fall semester. If this is incorrect, and you are *declining* admission, then please let me know. Please send email to grads(a)vt.edu to let the Grad School know as well. If you would like to *defer admission* to Spring 2021 or Fall 2021, just let me know and I will arrange this for you. Otherwise, welcome to our Department, and I look forward to meeting you in August! The purpose of this email is to give you a short orientation to the program, hopefully sufficient so that you can make the necessary decisions about Fall classes. *Email:* If I have both a non-VT email address and a VT email address for you, I temporarily added both to the listserv that I used to send this message. I will soon remove the non-VT email, and this is the last time that anyone from Virginia Tech is likely to send email to anything other than your VT email address. I recommend that you make sure that your VT email is being forwarded to wherever you regularly read your email. *Course Registration:* On Monday, July 13, the University Registrar's office intends to release an updated timetable of classes, and open registration to students. This updated timetable is meant to indicate the format for how each class will be presented, whether entirely online, in "hybrid" mode (which will include a face-to-face component, possibly optional), or in-person in a classroom. Most courses will be given either entirely online, or "hybrid" with a significant online component. Each hybrid course offering is a special case, and you will need to get details from the course instructor for exactly how it will operate. Since many instructors are still trying to figure this out, please don't send them email asking about this until at least mid-August. They probably won't be able to tell you much before then. Similar to most Universities, continuing students at Virginia Tech are given an opportunity to register for Fall classes sometime during the previous Spring semester. Unfortunately, that can create a situation where incoming students like yourself are locked out of popular courses. To keep that from happening, we have reduced the capacity for most graduate courses so that nobody can actually register for them next week. This means that we are holding seats in these classes, and we are giving you a way to tell me about your course preferences. I will then try to get everyone into their preferred classes, as much as possible. You will request your classes by filling out an online survey form, at: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_24rrtJmfTZgOx5H You should complete this survey by Midnight (your time) on Wednesday, July 15. We will then work on getting you into the classes as quickly as we can. You can find brief course descriptions for the regular CS courses at https://cs.vt.edu/Graduate/Courses.html, along with information about which courses give credit to which degrees. You can find information about the special topics courses for this semester at http://people.cs.vt.edu/barnette/grad/courses/. Note that once class capacities have been reset to their maximums, you can then use the online system to change your courses just like the continuing students. So if you don't get what you want, or if you change your plans, you can hopefully adjust your courses through the regular drop/add process. The last resort is to ask the instructor to "force add" you to the course. *Do not send email to any instructor asking them to do this prior to the first day of class! *The normal process is that they will collect a list of everyone who wants to get in, and somehow decide who they can accommodate. Asking before the first day of class will just waste their time and yours. *Orientation Information:* I will be giving an online orientation session for all new graduate students on Wednesday, August 19, probably from 2-4pm. We had hoped to do this at least optionally in-person, but the University is going to be rearranging furniture in all the large classrooms that week in preparation for the start of the semester. So we were unable to get the meeting room But to get you started, I will give you some introductory orientation information right now, hopefully enough to pick your classes. For information about the credit requirements for your degree, please review the appropriate page linked from https://cs.vt.edu/Graduate/Degrees.html. Technically, full-time enrollment is 9 credits. But all students who intend to be full-time (especially students on student visa) should always maintain at least 12 credits each semester. Now, a full course load at the graduate level is typically viewed as follows: Master of Engineering students: 3 or 4 regular courses MS/PhD students not on assistantship: 3 regular courses MS/PhD students on assistantship (GTA or GRA): You may take at most 2 regular courses. By "regular course" I mean a standard 3-credit course, regardless of the level or department. This does not include CS5944 graduate seminar (for MS/PhD students), or CS5994 or CS7994 research credits. For MEng students (since this is a coursework-only track), things are pretty straightforward: You can be full time just by taking enough courses. Unless you have an undergraduate major or minor in CS, you probably will take CS5040 as one of your classes in the first semester. MS/PhD students should never be taking 4 courses in a semester, and so cannot reach "full time" status from courses alone. So how do you satisfy the full-time credit requirements? First, you will probably take CS5944 Graduate Seminar each semester in your first year. But that is only one credit. So the main way to fill out your schedule is with CS5994 or CS7994 research hours as needed. You do not need to do any specific work related to these credits, they are primarily used to fill out your schedule. Most MS/PhD students end up with far more of these research hours than they will need. Special note: CS5994 and CS7994 research hours are not considered "online" credits. If you are on a student visa, and have no other way to satisfy the requirement of taking at least 3 credits of non-online courses, you should be able to make arrangements with your research advisor to satisfy the requirement using CS5994 or CS7994 credits as appropriate. But unless you are in this special situation, don't worry about it. -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Test 2
by Cliff Shaffer 10 Jul '20

10 Jul '20

Test 2 -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Welcome to new CS graduate students: Orientation and course registration
by Cliff Shaffer 10 Jul '20

10 Jul '20

Test. -- Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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