1. CS Graduate Orientation August 24, 2011 Slides from today are available at http://www.cs.rpi.edu/admissions/ grad/orientation11f/ Welcome

2. Introductions Chair’s Welcome Computer Systems Degree Requirements and Administrative Information Peer advisors Mixer Agenda

3. Salmon form for your reference Blue information form to fill out and return. Goldenrod evaluation form to fill out and return at end. Keys In your packets

4. Where are you from? (country, school, job, etc.) Are you here for MS or PhD? What is your intended research area? What do you like to do for fun? Anything else you’d like to share about yourself? Introductions

5. Usual hours: M-F 8:30-5:00, lunch 12-1 No appointment needed If my door is shut, I’m either not there, or busy. If I’m not there, Chris Coonrad can tell you whether I’ll be right back. If I don’t reply to your email, stop by my office. Contacting Me

6. Staff directory: http://www.cs.rpi.edu/people/staff.html Faculty research interests: http://www.cs.rpi.edu/people/faculty.html Committees: http://www.cs.rpi.edu/people/committee/ When in doubt, contact Terry. Graduate students often call faculty by their first names, but if in doubt, faculty can be addressed as Professor [last name] People

7. Role of advisor Research advisor vs. CS advisor If you have a problem with your advisor, you can go to the department chair. If you want to change advisors, talk to the advisor you want to switch to. If he/she agrees to the change, let me know and I’ll make the change. You should also inform your original advisor about the switch. Advisors

8. Two types of admits: research supervisor and department. If you were a department admit, you have an advisor in your area, but this person might not be your permanent advisor. Department Admits

9. Indicates you are working on research. At first, take a few per semester. Later you’ll be taking all research credits. Keep taking research credits until thesis done, even if you have enough. Research credits are graded S/U. S grade indicates progress, real goal is thesis completion. Research Credits

10. You need at least 24 credits of CSCI-9990 to get a PhD. You need at least 6 credits of CSCI-6990 to get an MS. If you can’t find the right type of research credits on the class hour schedule, contact Terry. Don’t register for CSCI-6990 if you need CSCI-9990. Registering for Research Credits

11. 1000, 2000, 4000 level: undergraduate, 4 credits 6000 level: graduate level, 3 credits. 1000 and 2000 level: Do not count for graduate degree. Do count toward credit total for tuition and full-time status. Course credits, p. 1

12. A limited number of 4000 level courses may count toward the degree. PhD: 15 or 1/3 of course credits may be 4000 level. MS: At least 18 credits must be 6000 level. 4000/6000 level courses. Meet together Requirements may be different. Course credits, p. 2

13. TAs must take at least 9 credits. Others must take at least 12 credits to maintain full-time status. Maximum number of credits covered by full-time tuition is 15. TAs often take 2-3 classes. You can use research credits to take more credits without taking more classes. How many credits to take

14. If you can’t register for a class because it is full, contact the professor and/or go to class the first day to find out if you can get it in anyway. The Authorization form allows you to register for a class even though it is full. An Independent Study form is required to register for an independent study. Registration issues

15. If you enter as full-time, you can’t change to part-time when you have few credits left. Instead, you must take as many credits as needed to attain full-time status. You can’t just not register for a semester. If you aren’t going to be taking any credits, you need to have some status such as in absentia, on leave, etc. Maintaining your status

16. 72 credits if you do not have prior MS –At least 36 course credits –At least 24 research credits –You can also get MS on way to PhD with a few additional requirements. 48 credits if you have prior MS: –At least 12 course credits –At least 24 research credits At least 2/3 of course credits at 6000 level. PhD Credits

17. New this year. Ignore information on web site about oral exams – that is for students who entered previously. Must do well in courses in 5 areas. 3 required areas Choose 2 of 5 optional areas. PhD Core Qualifying Exam, p. 1

18. Must get at least 2 As, no more than 1 B+. If grade is not good enough, take another course in the area. Must complete by end of third semester. If course is offered at both 4000 and 6000 level, must take 6000 level. Details at http://www.cs.rpi.edu/academics/grad/qual.html PhD Core Qualifying Exam, p. 2

19. Area 1 CSCI-6050 Computability and Complexity Area 2 CSCI-6140 Computer Operating Systems ECSE-6660 Broadband and Optical Networks Area 3 CSCI-6969 Programming Languages Fall 2011 courses in required core qual areas

20. Area 4 CSCI-4480 Robotics I CSCI-6270 Computational Vision Area 5 CSCI-4150 Artificial Intelligence CSCI-4380 Database Systems CSCI-6100 Machine Learning CSCI-6390 Database Mining Fall 2011 courses in optional areas 4-5

21. Area 6 CSCI-4800 Numerical Computing CSCI-6800 Computational Linear Algebra MANE-6660 Fundamentals of Finite Elements MATP-4600 Probability Theory and Applications Fall 2011 courses in optional area 6

22. Area 7 (do not take unless you have pre- requisites) BIOL-4760 Molecular Biochemistry I BIOL-6260 Advanced Cell Biology BIOL-6690 Advanced Molecular Biology Area 8 CSCI-6961 Data Science CSCI-6962 Semantic eScience Fall 2011 courses in optional areas 7-8

23. Committee End of second year: research qualifying exam End of third year: candidacy exam End of everything: defense 1 public talk Colloquium attendance Other PhD requirements

24. CSCI-6140 Operating Systems CSCI-6050 Computability and Complexity 1 systems course, 1 theory course At least 18 credits at 6000 level 6 credit thesis 30 credits total Colloquium attendance Committee Oral presentation MS Requirements

25. Full-time graduate students must attend at least 32 colloquia or 50% of those offered in their first 2 years. Sign-in sheet at colloquia. Checked in semiannual review of students. MS students who finish in less than 2 years must attend 8 per semester or 50%. Not applicable for part-time students. All are encouraged to attend. Colloquium Attendance

26. Graduate students are reviewed at the end of each semester. You will need to fill out an online form to report your progress. You will receive a letter about how you are doing and expectations for the coming semester. Semiannual review of students

27. Certifies department approval of your courses and research credits. Will be needed at graduation, and any time you submit a request to the Office of Graduate Education. Can re-do as often as needed if you change your plans. Credits must total 72 for PhD or 30 for MS. Signed by you, advisor, and GPD. Plan of Study

28. Prepare forms in advance of deadlines because signatures can’t be obtained instantaneously. For Graduate Program Director or Department Chair signature, give form to Terry Hayden. For Dean of Graduate Education, give form to Celia Paquette, or Terry will send. Signatures

29. Please register ASAP if on payroll International students See Judy Sawyer, x2385, sawyej@rpi.edu Bring Passport. Domestic students See Pam Paslow in MRC 304, 7:00am-2:30pm M-F. (Except Aug. 26, 29) Bring –photo ID and social security card OR –US passport Financial support

30. Pick up check in Academy Hall every other Friday or get direct deposit (see Pam Paslow and bring voided check). If picking up your check on a day other than payday, you’ll need to go the Rice Building (take shuttle bus). Financial support, p. 2

31. Your stipend will be divided by the number of pay periods per semester. If your information is entered late, you will not get paid until the second payday, but your checks will be larger. The number of pay periods may vary from semester to semester, which means the amount of your paycheck may change from semester to semester. Financial support, p. 3

32. It’s a rocky road to get a PhD Some people change advisors Some people fail the qualifying exams Some people join as a PhD student but leave with MS only Don’t be discouraged if you don’t follow the path you expected. Just find the path that’s right for you. Changes

33. Academic: Success in research requires initiative. Administrative: Don’t hesitate to ask me questions. Exceptions to rules may be possible. Social: The department can be as fun as you want to make it –Organize events –Party list –Photos on web site Initiative

34. Read mail sent to your CS and RPI email addresses. Contact me if you do not receive mail from csgrads email list. Check mailbox in Amos Eaton. Stay informed

35. We have poster sessions where you can learn about research going on in the department. Poster Sessions

36. Rest rooms in Lally Lally, Amos Eaton, MRC, Winslow. http://www.cs.rpi.edu/admissions/grad/floor plan.html Dept. office, faculty/staff mailboxes Student mailboxes, lounge Conference rooms, kitchenettes Department library (i.e. bookshelf) http://www.cs.rpi.edu/internal.html Places

37. You will share an office with others in your research group. If your research advisor is in a different department, your advisor should provide space there. If not, contact Terry Hayden to see if you can get space in CS. Use AE 217 for TA office hours. Student offices, p. 1

38. Talk with your officemates about sharing space, who sits at which desk. Work with officemates to make your office nice. Check with staff if your office needs anything, such as a chair, desk, white board, etc. Check phone and phone number. Repair problems may be sent to fixx@rpi.edu. Student offices, p. 2

39. Check with all your officemates, and if you find things that belong to none of the occupants, discard them. Or if you think someone may want them, check with department staff. When you move out, be courteous to future occupants and remove your stuff. Student offices, p. 3

40. Key rings available Staff have master keys If key is missing, you have a note If key missing and you don’t have note, see Terry in office Everyone has: –KA48 lab, lounge, coffee room, xerox –1B59 Amos Eaton building Keys, Part 1

41. Some people also have an office key If your advisor is outside CS or in Tetherless World, get office assignment and key through advisor If your office is in MRC, you will have card access to the building, MG15 for conference room, and MG8 for xerox. Keys, Part 2

42. If your office is in Lally, you also have MOA25 for Lally building Lally building key works in front door and one of two back doors. To unlock Lally front door, turn key, then push button. Keys, Part 3

43. Return forms to Terry later –Evaluation form after mixer Peer advising Key rings Mixer –Pick up table assignments –Nametags –Change tables when bell rings. What’s next?