Panlab

we have two problems: the maintenance of connex (or any software our dept
chooses to use) vs the maintenance of the infrastructure (power, cooling,
raid, backup&restore, etc) that runs connex. uvic systems is probably
better at the latter (and the economy of scale also applies), but our tech
team is really indispensable to help us innovate in our teaching and
research, and to lead the adoption of new (computer) technologies on
campus: i do not know how to convince university systems to add a new
feature in blackboard or moodle, but our tech team is really quick
improving connex (although i still hope connex forum is rss capable 😉
and they are really helpful when we put together the new lab for csc361.
of course, over the years, our expertise becomes commodity elsewhere, but
there are always new frontiers in (computer) technologies

i really hope our faculty and staff members can play more important roles
in uvic upper admin, to help the entire university become more effective
with technologies: if someone can convince grad admissions not to print
out pdf files and then scan them into again, it will save a lot of their
time and ours as well; if we do not need to submit “no change” forms every
year to declare conflict of interest or whatever but do so on demand when
necessary, it can save a lot of time overall—at least save some trees;
also they will no longer tell us “something is not banner-able” 😉 these
will save the university a lot of money. just my two cents

i am glad to report that by now we have raised enough money to pay back
the dept (since the dept has now processed the volunteer coach’s claim
form, who will be receiving his money next week) due to the budget cut

thanks a lot to the faculty members who donated cash out of their own
pocket: Zielinski, Whitesides, Miller, Miller, Suleman, Storey, Ruskey,
German, Muller, (sorry if i miss any), and many others stay anonymous

as promised, i’ve added my $100 out of my pocket as well. our dean also
contributed $10, after being convinced that students are not getting a
free trip attending the competition, three (3) hotel rooms are not luxury
for seven (7) students including a female, etc, but our dean pointed out
that a $13.88 dinner on ferry is too excessive for a student (on the way
back after a “brain battle” competition) and asked we not cover student
meals on trip. we will look into this suggestion very seriously

again, thanks to everyone supported in various formats. not help students
excel further fails the goal of any university to “challenge minds, change
worlds.” hope we haven’t disappointed our students. thanks

ps: we are now $10 above the goal, so we do not need to take any donation
further, but if you still want to contribute, please see Karen in the cs
office. all leftover and the cash box are handled by the cs main office

see the message below

also csc has updated this year’s schedule

http://www.csc.edu.cn/Chuguo/67e7e96b4bde4668af18647db6edb1c1.shtml

sorry it’s in chinese only, but the rough schedule is

• conditional offer from foreign schools by feb 20
• students to apply at csc by march 25
• notification by may 2011

hope it helps

i had some experience with the csc-uvic program and wrote something to
this list a while ago. i can find out and resend it again

please drop by the main office (or the dept meeting next
tuesday) if you want to contribute and help our students. hopefully by the
dept meeting we have raised enough money to payback the balance

also thanks to those who are willing to “cover it all” by personal or
other funds—i will try maxmin approach first. thanks again

for backgrounders—sorry we have wasted too much time in it already

i will put in $100 as the donation (unfortunately they don’t need a name
for another faculty newsletter 😉 so we are basically raising the fund to
cover tom and sue’s share. thanks a lot again