Student Volunteers

Student volunteers are essential to the success of the CSCW conference. In return for help at the conference, student volunteers receive a number of benefits including free conference registration, one free tutorial of their choice, a cool t-shirt, and a complimentary Conference Reception ticket. While the volunteer duties are not always glamorous, they do provide opportunities to meet and interact with CSCW contributors, attendees, and other student volunteers. Students often report that the 'social networks' they build from these interactions are the greatest benefit of being a volunteer.

Qualifications

Volunteers must be undergraduate, Master's, or Ph.D. students during the 2006-2007 academic year. All students, regardless of discipline, are encouraged to apply. No experience is required. We are looking for enthusiastic, intelligent, reliable people. Volunteers must commit to 20 volunteer hours of work at the conference between 4-8 November 2006.

Applications

Student Volunteers should apply online at http://www.chi-sv.org/index.php/cscw2006. Applications will be accepted until the last day of March, 2006. Information we will need includes:

  • Contact Information (Address, Country, Email, Day Phone, E-mail)
  • Experience (Prior Volunteer Activities)
  • Languages Spoken
  • Affiliation (School, Department, Status Full-time/Part-Time)

A valid, dated student identification card or a letter from your university or school must be presented when registering at the conference.

This information is being collected so that the legitimacy of applications can be easily confirmed. It will not be used in the random selection of SVs from the pool of legitimate applicants as described below.

Upon Acceptance

Student volunteers will be chosen at random from applications received by 31 March 2006. Those volunteers initially selected will be notified by late April so they can begin making any necessary arrangements and get involved in the online student volunteer community. The waiting list will consist of applications received by the deadline but not initially selected. Applications received after the deadline will be placed at the end of the waiting list in the order in which they are received.

Historically, more students apply than can be accepted, so early application is encouraged. However, applicants on the waiting list are often accepted, so do not be discouraged if you are applying close to or after the preliminary deadline.

Visa Information

If you are an accepted SV and you need a visa to enter Canada, please contact us immediately so we can start processing. Depending on where you are coming from and your nationality, getting a visa can be difficult, but we will work as quickly and efficiently as possible so that it is not a problem.

Housing Information

At this point, CSCW 2006 is not planning to provide any 'official housing' for student volunteers. We are aware, though, that it can be difficult to find affordable accommodation and transportation options in Banff. Please stay tuned to this space for more information as the conference draws closer.

We hope that you will be able to join us in Banff for a great conference!

CSCW Student Volunteers Co-Chairs

Jeremy Birnholtz, University of Toronto, Canada
Laura Dabbish, Carnegie Mellon University, USA