Graduate Introduction

Neil Leslie

February 2007

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Statutory notice

In order to ensure the quick and efficient evacuation of buildings when thefire alarm sounds lecturers and tutors are asked to relay basic instructionson building evacuation to their classes at the commencement of each class.In the event of an earthquake it is not advisable to evacuate a buildingunless collapse is imminent.

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About. . .

Neil Leslie is the graduate studies convener.

Office hours for graduate students are Monday 9:00 – 11 am

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It’s all here. . .

Graduate Study in Computer Science –http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/comp/graduates/

SMSCS Graduate Courses –http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/courses/grad-courses

University Timetable – http://www.vuw.ac.nz/timetables/

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Labs

There are lab facilities for post-graduate students:

CO 232 ‘Memphis’

Space is tight (we are working on this!)

Lab hours – http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/about/labhours

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Lab rules

Lab rules – http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/about/labrules.The rules for the graduate labs are slightly more relaxed:

food is allowed but must be kept away from computers;

rules about not disturbing other students still apply.

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Lab problems

If you have a problem with the behaviour of other people:

politely tell them that they are disturbing you;

email conduct@mcs.vuw.ac.nz;

talk to, or email, the graduate studies convener.

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Memphis cooperative

Student cooperative sells (cheap!) drinks, chocolate, ice cream andfrozen foods.

you need an account to to make purchases

See Stephen Nelson.

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Memphis Social Club

organises regular social events to get people out of the labs and awayfrom computers

This Thursday night social game of netball

see Luke McCrohon.

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Statutes

You are also governed by the University Statutes:

The Information Systems Statute strictly prohibits users from:

perpetrating fraud or harassment by email or similar means,obtaining offensive material over the Web or network,incurring unauthorised network costs.

The Statute on Conduct strictly prohibits any offensive behaviour orharassment.

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MCS accounts

In order to activate your account, log on to any of our lab computers usingthe username register with password register

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Printing

Printing – http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/about/PrintingAllocationsAll students have unlimited free printing on printers that print output in“two-up” format.

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Taught papers

COMP 400 level taught papers are assessed in a variety of ways:

written assignments

programming assignments

presentations

exams

Different course are assessed differently. Notice that passing theassignments to a course does not mean that you will automatically passthe course.

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Project papers

For BITT 489, COMP 489, COMP 588, COMP 889 you must:

find a topic and a supervisor;

work on the project, and record what you have done;

describe what you discovered.

Project information page –http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/comp/graduates/information/projectinfoSuggested topics – http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/comp/graduates/projects

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Learning outcomes

apply best scientific, professional and/or engineering practice to aidentify a problem in computer science or information technology, andto design, develop, and assess a solution to the problem;

communicate, both orally and in writing, the problem and its solution;

understand and demonstrate scholarship, in particular with regard toacademic and technical writing.

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Deilverables

A proposal, which must identify two milestones. Due end of week 3 of1st trimester of your project.

A report against the first milestone. 10% of assessment. Due endof week 9 of 1st trimester of your project.

A report against the second milestone. 10% of assessment. Dueend of week 2 of 2nd trimester of your project.

A poster presentation. 10% of assessment. Due end of week 9 of2nd trimester of your project.

A final report, of 40 pages or fewer. 70% of assessment. Due endof week 12 of 2nd trimester of your project.

The proposal will be written with the support of your supervisor and iscompulsory, but will not count towards the overall assessment. You mustalso maintain a log book detailing the week-to-week progress of yourresearch.

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Proposal

The proposal is due week 3, first trimester.You should discuss your proposal with your supervisor.Your proposal must identify two milestones.You may want to make use of the LATEX project proposal template.

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Milestones

You must submit reports against the milestones you identified in yourproposal.

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Communication

One of the key aspects of scientific work is the communication of resultsto others.For computer science projects this is done by making a poster presentationand by writing a report.You may want to make use of the LATEX project report template.

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Reports

Each project report is read and marked by a small committee.

Only in exceptional cases will an extension be granted for the report.

Your report should be less than 40 pages long.

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Seminars

Graduate students are encouraged to go to seminars. Details of seminarsare available at //www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/events/seminars/.

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Te Ropu Awhina Putaiao. (Awhina)

The Faculty of Science provides its Maori and Pacific Nations’ studentswith additional academic and pastoral help through its whanau supportsystem, Te Ropu Awhina Putaiao. (Awhina)Awhina – http://www.vuw.ac.nz/science/Awhina/

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Interface

Interface is the Victoria University of Wellington Computer Club,incorporating the Official ACM Student Chapter. The Interface web-site isat //www.interface.org.nz/.

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VUWPGSA

Victoria PostGraduate Students’ Assn – http://www.vuw.ac.nz/pgsa/

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Conclusion

Work hard. Enjoy yourself.

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