CECS Newsletter 2 for AY 2008/09

The 2008/09 academic year is finally here. Welcome back! Remember to allow enough time to find parking in the first couple of weeks and make it to class on time. There are several construction projects around campus and this may make it more difficult to find parking, so be patient and allow time to find parking!

If you'd like to contribute to this newsletter, feel free to send contributions to Dr. Monge. Contributions can range from notification of jobs, internships, fellowships, and scholarships to announcements of campus events, and questions you'd like answered which would be relevant (primarily) to CECS students.

As of the writing of this newsletter, not all of the advising hours for the advisors were known to me. Contact Ms. Karyl Anthony in the department office (ECS 552 or by calling 562-985-4285) to learn the availability of the advisors.

• CECS Classes with low enrollments are in danger of being canceled, so if you plan to enroll do so as soon as possible. In particular, CECS 323 section 07/08 will be canceled unless there are at least 12 students present on the first day of class. This does not suggest that other sections will allow more students! CECS 323 is a prerequisite to several key electives, so plan carefully when you want to take this class.

• The department is currently in the middle of the transition to using Java as the programming language of instruction in CECS 174, 274, and 277. All CECS 174 sections are being taught in Java. This semester only section 01/02 of CECS 274 will use C++, while the other two sections will use Java. Be sure that you are enrolled in the appropriate section of CECS 274 in order to succeed in the class. This is also the last semester in which all CECS 277 sections will use C++ as the language of instruction.

• U.S. News & World Report Ranks CSULB 4th Best Public Master's University in the West in Its 2009 Best Colleges Guide. Additionally, the CSULB College of Engineering was ranked as one of best undergraduate engineering programs in the nation. Read the whole story
• 49ers shine in the XXIX Olympiad. Misty May is among the CSULB alumni to win Gold for the USA in the 2008 Summer Olympics. 49er Medalists in Beijing Olympics

Position: Programmer/Analyst

Major responsibilities:

• Database Administration - Plans, develops, modifies, and coordinates the implementation of new database functions. Programs and builds queries using MySQL/Access. Consolidate the departmental database processes and functions into one shared database. Maintains and provides analysis of internal database system. Evaluates and develops systematic process to collect and track data, and to maintain and integrate database processes and programming to support outreach and recruitment online publications through the code-level design and maintenance of stable, standards-based publishing resources, web based communication, static and dynamic programmatic code.
• Application and Programming Development - Assists with the maintenance of dynamic web applications with an emphasis on application programming. Works closely with the Assistant Director of Marketing, in UOSR to serve as a technical liaison with campus groups for operations involving dynamic-publishing aspects of the university web templates, and electronic mass communications.
• Systems Analyst and Development and Server Management - Analyze the users and application needs, determine and evaluate alternative solutions and approaches to meeting those needs, and select the optimal solution. Establish appropriate security measures and permissions for file sharing and perform any maintenance necessary to safeguard the data and maintain a high level of confidentiality. Serves as technical liaison with Student

Services, ITS, and Network Services technical support groups for all operations involving web servers, web services, web databases, security and networking.

• Documentation and Training of Technical Processes - Responsible for the written documentation of all technical database and web-based processes.

Skills required:

• Experience with building and maintaining database queries using SQL
• Ability to edit on-line forms
• Experience with MySQL and MS Access
• Data Base development/programming/implementation expertise
• Ability to generate reports
• Ability to prepare and send mass emails
• Web-based experience desired but not required
• Hardware maintenance/troubleshooting experience
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Salary negotiable/ based upon work experience.

To apply, send e-mail to: Valerie Bordeau, Director of University Outreach & School Relations and President's Scholars Program.

My Gear Store, Inc., located in Signal Hill, CA, has an entry-level position available either full-time or part-time.

Skills required:

• Web development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Some PHP programming

Notes: It would be very ecclectic work. The atmosphere is fun and young, all employees are in our 20's.

Interested students should send e-mail to Ben

Position: J2EE Developer position located in Boston, MA or Charlotte, NC

Company: OneAxis Inc is a premier consulting company servicing Fortune 500 clients in Boston, New York, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Bay area. We hire fresh/junior/senior consultants and IT professionals and we offer the opportunity to work with other senior individuals on exciting and challenging projects.

Description: Position available as member of a development team, primarily responsible for writing code. Participates in design reviews, code reviews, creation of design documents (LLD and HLD). Primary role will be front development using Ajax. Must have good communication skills.

Requirements:

• At least 2 years of real world JAVA experience.
• Java (Java 1.4 and 1.5) Programming experience
• Good Ajax experience. Should have used Ajax significantly on a prior project
• JSP
• HTML
• Javascript
• Experience on eCommerce and/or user facing web applications, preferably high volume applications.

Desired skills:

• Developed on Websphere (any version. 5.x and 6.x preferred)
• RAD
• JIRA
• Perforce
• Agile / iterative development methodology
• Waterfall development experience

One Axis provides an excellent compensation package(starts from 55k-70K per annum) as well as great benefits.

If you are up for a challenge and enjoy working with senior professionals on dynamic projects, please send your Word formatted resume to Mahesh Kashyap

"The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough."

by Randy Pausch (Carnegie Mellon University Professor who passed away this past July due to Pancreatic Cancer, he made many contributions in the field of HCI and also for the development of Alice. The quote is taken from his Last Lecture. You can read other quotes of Randy Pausch from his Last Lecture).