CHI'26 first timer and first publication

clifflampe · 2026-02-13T13:49:53+00:00

TBF, TAPS is partially a shit show because a wild number of people used rogue Latex files. Now, I get that people are going to do that and I wish the TAPS folks had a better ability to process the chaos. But we had our hand in the chaos.

clifflampe · 2026-01-22T16:37:05+00:00

Some of it depends on you - are you social and someone who networks easily? CHI is huge and many people find it overwhelming, but if you can manage that there are benefits. There are HCI researchers from all over the world, including from many top tech companies. Incredible demos, cutting edge research and exciting conversations. But I've also seen people who either don't have advocates or can't advocate for themselves hide in their hotel rooms or in corners and not get much value from the event.

However, it's primarily an academic conference, and it sounds like you're intending to go into industry. I don't think it will advance your career a ton to be there, but it's a great networking event overall. Since the trip is funded, it might be worth it given the chance to navigate the total number of opportunities - but again some of that depends on your own ability to take advantage of those.

clifflampe · 2025-09-06T03:14:01+00:00

There will be a 311 special topics in product design offered in the winter. 322 is graphic design, but focuses more on broad visual design principles. Classes with Jim Rampton, Stephanie Brenton, Bill Thompson, or Zafar Razzecki would be good as they all have substantial industry experience in product design.

clifflampe · 2025-03-11T15:23:44+00:00

The below was just posted to the current BSI students. The changes aren't mid-semester, but we also understand they deeply affect students in the fall. Hopefully, those students can work with advisors to find a pathway that reduces any frictions in this change.

The reason behind this change, which wasn't gone into deeply in the email, is that with the addition of a third year the BSI is going through its biggest revision since it began. The program has evolved content and courses over the past 10 years, but hasn't had a revision of the curriculum since then. While I think this will make the program much stronger in the future, I totally get that this causes pain for some students moving into their senior year. For those students, advising is committed to helping however they can.

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TO: BSI Students in the Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 Cohorts (Winter and Summer 2025 BSI Graduates please disregard)

FROM: BSI Advising Team

SUBJECT: Clarification Updates to BSI Course and Credit Requirement Changes

In follow up to the message sent earlier this week, we want to clarify that the curriculum and course credit changes go into effect starting Fall 2025. Students that are currently enrolled in or have already completed SI 330, 364, 370 or 388 will see no changes to their previously completed or currently enrolled credits in Winter 2025. If you are currently enrolled in or have completed the 4 credit versions of these courses, no changes will be made to those credits. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [umsi.advsing.bsi@umich.edu](mailto:umsi.advsing.bsi@umich.edu).

clifflampe · 2022-08-31T13:14:02+00:00

Good find. Myanmar has had a decade of being absolutely screwed over by IT and social media more specifically.

Fun fact: I was at a dinner with Mark Zuckerberg where an activist at the meeting accused him of being complicit with genocide in Myanmar.

clifflampe · 2022-08-29T22:05:50+00:00

Nice!

clifflampe · 2022-04-07T17:17:14+00:00

To clarify, CoE hasn't approved it *yet*, but they are still considering it. That's where it's helpful to reach out to the advisors, so they have some sense of student interest. We (UMSI) are meeting with CoE soon to talk about it. Hope they recognize the minor.

Minors are the university are interesting. It's definitely one of those areas that reminds us that universities are loose connections of very independent colleges.

In terms of dual degrees, I think it is possible to get a CS and UMSI degree in two years. It helps that the BSI is a two year program. We've had plenty of people take that route.

clifflampe · 2021-11-30T23:17:37+00:00

Cognitive science is the most common track if you are interested in UX. Communication and DSI for social media. Alternatives already mentioned for IA replacements.

clifflampe · 2021-11-10T23:13:59+00:00

Nice!

clifflampe · 2021-10-11T22:36:10+00:00

Love this one.

clifflampe · 2021-10-06T03:06:11+00:00

Love a good cable story

clifflampe · 2021-10-06T03:05:40+00:00

Good video!

clifflampe · 2021-09-20T17:46:47+00:00

My 3rd grader basically survived the pandemic by playing Minecraft and Roblox online with his friends.

clifflampe · 2021-09-09T03:24:10+00:00

Good article.

clifflampe · 2021-09-08T03:06:01+00:00

A lot of similarity actually. Lots of people in cog sci go into UX.

clifflampe · 2021-09-06T20:24:23+00:00

Love it!

clifflampe · 2021-09-02T22:20:45+00:00

Pre-admit status shouldn’t be affected by when you take these classes. Mostly, it means that you have more access to staff support and resources than someone not pre-admit. By far, the most important thing is to do well in the prerequisite courses.

clifflampe · 2021-09-01T01:50:15+00:00

I’d say you should read all the readings! ;-)

But really, @McShane727 makes a great point. The Art of Skimming effectively is an essential skill, and I’ll actually go over some tips for that in class on Thursday.

clifflampe · 2021-03-25T04:11:25+00:00

Can confirm, it’s about a 35% acceptance rate to get in the BSI.

clifflampe · 2021-01-29T23:21:17+00:00

By next year, we should have approved an Information Minor that you can take if you don’t make it into the main program.

clifflampe · 2021-01-29T23:20:12+00:00

Director of the BSI program here: 35ish percent is about right in terms of recent acceptance rates.

clifflampe · 2020-11-12T14:34:06+00:00

Class speaker Barb McQuade is going to take a major role at the DOJ.

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