MIT EECS GSA - Graduate Students Association

The various activities and projects run by the GSA fall under standing and ad-hoc committees. The current committees are listed here with their purpose and proposed projects. If you would like to help out with any of these activities and want to suggest ideas of your own, we encourage you to contact eecs-gsa [at] mit [dot] edu.

Academic, Research and Careers Committee

The Academics, Research and Careers Committee is responsible for examining issues students may have regarding the academic or rsearch structure of the department. It should also promote seminars, career development activities, and related topics.

Ongoing, proposed, and past activities include:

EECS GradBook

We set up an online wiki called the EECS GradBook where anyone with an MIT certificate can read, write, and edit articles about anything related to graduate student life in EECS.

EECS Education Committee

The EECS Department has an Education Committee ("VI-Ed") consisting of professors, administrators, and students that meets weekly to approve proposed new subjects and to discuss any academic issues in the department. There are currently two graduate student representatives on VI-Ed: Emily Fox and Stephen Hou.

TA Workshop

We ran events during IAP 2005 and IAP 2006 where experienced teaching assistants (TAs) gave advice on teaching to new EECS TAs. Beginning in Fall 2006, these will be held every semester.

Rights and Responsibilities in Research Seminar

We sponsored a series of discussions hosted by Prof. Tayo Akinwande about various issues EECS graduate students face as researchers. in IAP 2005. We hope to run these again in summer/fall 2006.

TQE Preparation

In IAP 2006, a panel of experienced students talked about how to prepare for the written Technical Qualifying Exams (TQE) that EE students take. Please e-mail Nicole DiLello at ndilello or Jin Choi at myungjin if you'd like to join study groups for TQEs.

RQE Preparation

Similarly, we'd like to hold a panel on how to preapare for the Research Qualifying Exam (RQE).

Graduate Counselor Award

In May 2006, we will present an award for the Best Graduate Counselor (not Best Research Supervisor). Please nominate your counselor by e-mailing sdey and danial.

PhD Roadmap

This is a seminar discussing a roadmap for the PhD program run/written by students for students.

Advice on Finding a Research Supervisor

This would be a document or seminar that would offer advice to new students on finding a research supervisor and funding.

Thesis Workshop

We'd like to hold a workshop to explain how to write a thesis. It would also introduce LaTeX.

Biweekly Seminar

We'd like to hold a (lunch) seminar every other week or so where a speaker would deliver an informal lecture on an interesting topic that is accessible to all EECS graduate students.

How Do I Become a Professor?

We'd like to hold a panel discussion in 2006-2007 on the career path for a professor. What does one need to do in order to become a professor?

What is a PhD? How do I get into a PhD program?

We'd like to hold a panel discussion in fall 2006 for undergraduates and MEng students on demystifying what a PhD is and how to apply for PhD programs.

Athletics Committee

The Athletics Committee is responsible for organizing teams of EECS graduate students to play in MIT's intramural sports leagues. Students can also use the mailing list to find buddies to play pick-up games.

IM Sports

We field teams in a variety of MIT IM sports. Please volunteer to play on the teams or to be the captain!

Ski Trip

We plan to have an EECS ski trip every year. Please check out the webpage from the 2006 EECS Ski Trip.

Tai Chi

In January 2006, Anne Hunter invited her instructor to teach tai chi, a Chinese martial art, to EECS graduate students. We'd like to make this a regular event in summer 2006.

Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee is responsible for incorporating issues pertinent to underrepresented groups in the department, such as, but not limited to, women, ethnic minorities, international students, and LGBT, into events already planned by the GSA and coordinating events solely geared at addressing these issues.

Orientation Committee

The Orientation Committee organizes and oversees the orientation of new EECS graduate students, as well as the visit days for prospective EECS graduate students.

Publicity Committee

The Publicity Committee is responsible for advertising GSA events to the EECS graduate student body.

Social Committee

The Social Committee is responsible for fostering and promoting events and activites that enhance the social environment for members of the EECS Graduate Student Body.

Proposed and past events include:

Biweekly Breakfasts

EECS GSA served breakfasts every two weeks during the Fall 2004 semester and during IAP 2005.

Study Breaks

We would like to provide food once in while and a chance for EECS students to mingle. In December 2004, we co-sponsored a sushi study break with Eta Kappa Nu (HKN).

Semi-Annual Celebration

We would like to hold a party each semester for all EECS graduate students. The first one was held in February 2004.

Outings

We would like to run outings that are subsidized for EECS graduate students. These could include beach trips, island tours, whale watching, bike tours, etc.