CECS Newsletter 1 for AY 2009/10

August 31 2009

by Dr. Alvaro Monge

We're at the start of a new academic year. I hope your summer was productive. For those of you new to the department, I am the editor of this newsletter and I am also the advisor the the BSCS program. In this newsletter, I put together important announcements from the department, college, and University that are pertinent to all of you. I also post information about jobs, internships and scholarships that have come to our attention. I send an e-mail message notifying everyone when a newsletter is ready. I recommend taking a moment to review the contents of the newsletter as often we use it to deliver critical information.

As I'm sure you know by now, we are in the midst of a budget crisis that has affected all of us. Below are just a couple of the immediate impacts the budget cuts have had on the campus.

The following is a list of dates when the campus will be closed this semester:

• Tuesday September 8
• Friday October 9
• Monday November 2

• The Cashiers and Enrollment Services windows will be open Monday August 31st to Friday, September 4th from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Beginning Wednesday, September 9th, the windows will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

• The Parking and Transportation Services Customer Relations Center (CRC) will be open Monday, August 31st to Friday, September 11th from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Beginning Monday, September 14th the CRC will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday

As you return to campus, please be aware that the H1N1 Flu is still a cause for concern. Some CSULB students tested positive in the Spring semester. The flu season may raise the level of infections throughout the country. The University has asked us to distribute the following information:

• Because of an anticipated increase in seasonal and H1N1 flu, any student who has influenza-like illness should stay home until 24 hours after fever is gone. Absent students should notify instructors prior to each missed class by email or telephone. As much as possible, instructors will accommodate students who are absent due to influenza-like illness, but it may not always be possible to make up work missed. In considering students requests to withdraw from courses, flu illness will be considered a “serious and compelling reason”. More information about influenza is available by following the Medical Advisory, Flu Information website.

The Long Beach Health Department has advised the following habits to prevent catching or spreading the flu:

• Wash hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer frequently.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home from work or school if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
• Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, exercise, get plenty of rest, do not smoke and avoid alcoholic beverages.

There are two very important campus policies that every undergraduate student must be aware of. Here is a brief description of each policy, please see your advisor if you have questions about these or any other policy.

• New Withdrawal Policy:
  • You may withdraw from a maximum of 18 units over the course of your entire CSULB undergraduate career (starting with Fall 2009 courses).
  • Medical withdrawals and Withdrawals for reasons beyond your control will not count toward this total and will be recorded as WE (Withdrawal by Extenuating Circumstance).
  • Withdrawals during the first two (2) weeks of the semester by way of MyCSULB are not recorded and do not count against your withdrawal limit. Withdrawals after the second week of the semester require a form and instructor approval and will count toward the 18 unit limit.
  • If you do not officially withdraw from a course and fail to complete sufficient work to receive a letter grade (A-F) you will be assigned a WU (Unofficial Withdrawal). For the purposes of grade point average, this symbol is equivalent to an F and does not count toward your withdrawal limit.
  • A WU will not be changed to a W (Official Withdrawal) at the end of the first semester for any student.
• Repeating Courses and Grade Forgiveness allows you to:
  • repeat up to 28 units, of which a maximum of 16 units can be for Grade Forgiveness. Only the units awarded for the original attempt count toward the 28 units.
  • repeat courses only if you earned a D, F, WU, or NC (No Credit). The course must be repeated at CSULB.
  • earn an A, B, C or CR (Credit) on the second attempt for Grade Forgiveness (only the grade awarded for the second attempt counts toward your GPA). Second attempts resulting in WU, F, or D will result in grade averaging, i.e. all grades will count toward your GPA.
  • attempt an individual course a third time only with permission from an academic advisor. In rare cases in which a third attempt is allowed the grades in all three attempts will count toward your GPA.

There are a number of key deadlines to keep in mind for this semester, in particular:

• Sept 14: Deadline to withdraw or drop classes without 'W' grade using MyCSULB (by 10:00 pm). Keep this date in mind especially given the new policy described above.

Advising of students resumed this week, please check with the department office to learn about the specific days/times when faculty are available for advising of students.

• Undergraduate Computer Engineering Majors are advised by Dr. Michael Chelian in ECS-544.
• Undergraduate Computer Science Majors are advised by Dr. Alvaro Monge in ECS-547. He is available on a walk-in basis:
  • Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 3 to 4:30pm.
• All Graduate Students are advised by Dr. Burkhard Englert in ECS-531. He is available by appointments only. You need to schedule appointments in the department office at ECS 552 or by calling 562-985-4285.

The state budget cuts have had a significant impact on the schedule of classes so some of you may find that classes you want or need to take are full and you cannot enroll. Whenever there is a section that is open, students must do what they can to change their schedule in order to enroll in the open section.

If the class you need is full, students must contact the department office, in particular the chair of the department will review your request.

Other concerns may be addressed by the advisors, so students should also seek their advise.

Computer Engineering students who are required to do a senior project are reminded that they must attend the first class meeting of CECS 490A. Attendance is mandatory as many important announcements will be made and also enrollment in the class will be determined. CECS 490A will meet Monday/Wednesday starting at 9:30am in VEC-402.

• IEEE 7th International System-on-Chip (SoC) -- Orange County Section Student Design Contest: Students are cordially invited to participate in the IEEE Orange County Section Student Design Contest that will be held on November 4, 2009, at the 7th International System-on-Chip (SoC) Conference at the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach. This targeted event enables dialogue among peers and experts in our field and it is an outstanding networking opportunity for graduating students seeking new opportunities in the high-tech industry. To participate a Design Contest Proposal must be submitted by October 14th.

The department is in need of Student Lab Assistants for CECS 174.

1. Requirement: Need to know Java.
2. Must be Federal Work-Study Student

Please email Mrs. Mack as soon as possible.

Jordan Price, an alumni and special education reading teacher is seeking to hire a programmer to assist in creating a reading lesson CD. Please contact Jordan Price via e-mail.

”Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog.”

By Doug Larson as found in Back to School Quotes and Sayings website. From Dr. Monge… Be sure to backup your computer… “The Computer ate my homework” is no excuse! :)