Computer Association of SIUE - Forums

CAOS Forums => Official Business => Topic started by: raptor on 2009-03-31T18:01:08-05:00 (Tuesday)

Title: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: raptor on 2009-03-31T18:01:08-05:00 (Tuesday)
I have just been informed that not one single student showed up for today's Monsanto presentation.  :angry:  They were here to talk about internship opportunities AND a trip to their new data center.  I cannot impress upon students how bad this makes CAOS, the CS Dept, and our Students look, let alone the harm it does to our reputations.

As President it is my responsibility to find out WHY?  We advertised both on the forum and with flyers for several weeks. We scheduled to avoid class conflicts.

PLEASE, Tell me, why weren't you present?
Not interested?
Bad time?
Didn't know?

Help me help us.

Scott


Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Bryan on 2009-03-31T18:46:52-05:00 (Tuesday)
Ouch.
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Robert Kennedy on 2009-03-31T19:09:41-05:00 (Tuesday)
Personally, I've had it marked on my calendar for a while.  However, I feel Dr. Ehlman, Dr. White, and Dr. Bouvier co conspired to all have projects, tests, group projects, and homework due this week and its been pretty frantic.

I can't speak for everyone, but I know there were at least a couple other people that had planned on going that were frantically trying to finish projects that are coming up when the Monsanto rep came into the lab today.  For me at least, this meet and greet was scheduled during a week that was 10x busier than finals and midterms weeks combined. 
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: bandyguy on 2009-03-31T21:10:17-05:00 (Tuesday)
Busy busy week. Now I really wish I had gone :(
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Jarod Luebbert on 2009-04-02T02:44:19-05:00 (Thursday)
Same. I know the majority of my CS312 class was working on the program due at midnight. I also had to work. That's really unfortunate. It's going to be next to impossible to get them to come back and give a presentation. Plus other companies might found out our 'reputation' from them.
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Shaun Martin on 2009-04-02T09:39:06-05:00 (Thursday)
First off, where were the officers for this event?  It's one thing to make a post and lecture the members of CAOS for not showing up to an event if the officers were there but it sounds to me like there were hardly any representatives from CAOS there to begin with.  Don't expect your members to show up if you won't. 

Also, I believe its rather unprofessional and tacky to make a post such as this and then link it to the announcments section of the message boards.  You have been given privileges to maintain this forum, not abuse it by posting things such as this.  What if a company is interested in talking with CAOS and they decide to do a little research and wind up here and see this wonderful post and its great big link on the home page?
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: raptor on 2009-04-02T14:25:38-05:00 (Thursday)
Shaun,

The officers had been in touch with Nathan, and he knew what was set up for the day.  I agree we should have been there as well.  This post was not directed ONLY at students.
Also, I was concerned about posting this on a public forum, but its the only way I have to contact students.  My plan was/is to pull this down at the end of the week.

Scott
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Tony on 2009-04-04T23:12:58-05:00 (Saturday)
First, I think any time a company comes to SIUE through CAOS, every CAOS or close to every CAOS member should be there.  These companies are looking for students that can act as professional hosts.  That means more than one or two people showing them to the room.  I personally believe there should be food and drinks and the event should be taken very serious.  It was when I was there.

One of the biggest downfalls of SIUE's CS department right now is the lack of emphasis on how important internships and meeting companies really is.  If it wasn't for a few select old CAOS officers who pushed me to explore an internship and be proactive I would not be working at Lockheed Martin right now. 

We had some people come to the career fair and I was sad to here that only a hand full of people showed up as professionals.  One person showed up in a white T shirt and pants with holes in them.  He didn't have a resume and expected our representative to write down his information.  Ridiculous!  If things continue like this companies will no longer waste the time, effort, or money to hold these events.

I also think the professors should be more proactive with this.  They should be making it clear that this is vital to your careers.  If they are not, they are failing you.
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Adam C on 2009-04-06T12:02:41-05:00 (Monday)
I agree with Tony that internships are vital both to our eventual careers and our development as computer scientists, but I also feel like it's hard to get upset at people for not showing. I mean, if people aren't interested in working for Monsanto, then they aren't interested...

I also agree that it does make the department look unorganized but I think that is more a reflection of a lack of communication. I mean, I didn't even know they were coming until I saw this post on the forum. This forum doesn't see enough activity to warrant checking more than once a week or so, and oftentimes when I go to check it, something has already come and gone. Additionally, putting up 5 or 6 flyers in the EB doesn't do much either, there is so much stuff hanging on the walls that I think most people just tune it out. I am sure that if more people knew Monsanto was coming, there would have been a better turnout.
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: raptor on 2009-04-06T12:30:42-05:00 (Monday)
We post at the TOP of the forum so it is always on top and doesn't cycle out.  We have been posting on average 15+ flyers in the EB plus putting them in teachers mailboxes.  What more would you recommend we do?

Scott
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Jarod Luebbert on 2009-04-06T14:09:49-05:00 (Monday)
What about a CAOS email subscription? I'm not talking about spamming students, but only notifiying them when actual events are coming up.
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Adam C on 2009-04-06T14:15:14-05:00 (Monday)
I think an email subscription would be cool, maybe like a monthly "what's happening this month in caos" kind of thing
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: raptor on 2009-04-06T15:14:38-05:00 (Monday)
We have the ability to do this but we end up with a bunch of MAD old members still getting emails.
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Shaun Martin on 2009-04-06T15:39:22-05:00 (Monday)
They only get upset when you use it for non-CAOS related activities.  An example of this would be if some unnamed officer sent out an email to everybody on the forums about his senior project.  :whistling:
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Adam C on 2009-04-06T16:07:16-05:00 (Monday)
I agree with Shaun, if you subscribed to a newsletter I don't see why you would be upset to get messages unless they were off topic.
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: Bryan on 2009-04-07T18:55:10-05:00 (Tuesday)
Bah, made old members should be reminded of their roots (and just ask to be taken off)
Title: Re: Zero Students Showed Up For Monsanto - WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!
Post by: raptor on 2009-04-07T19:32:55-05:00 (Tuesday)
Don't know what you are talking about Shaun.  I do recall getting a message regarding and amazing project that lots of people were interested in.