Deadlines and Extensions
- When will the application for the Student Volunteer Program be available?
- When is the deadline to submit an application to the Student Volunteer Program?
- Can I submit the application to the Student Volunteer Program after the deadline?
- Why is this so absolute?
- Are partial or incomplete submissions considered?
- How will SIGGRAPH 2015 address network failures?
- When and how will I be notified if I have been accepted?
Applications
- Where do I fill out and submit my application to be a Student Volunteer?
- How do I apply to be a Student Volunteer Team Leader?
- How do I apply for Financial Assistance?
- My email address will be changing soon. How can I notify you of the update?
- I have completed the online submission forms, but it still allows me to edit my account. Am I done?
- My school does not issue transcripts. What should I use for proof of student status instead?
- I am an international student with a grading system that does not match the traditional American grade-point-average system. How do I answer the question about my grade point average in the application?
- Does applying for financial assistance make me any more or less likely to be selected as a Student Volunteer?
General
- On my application I applied for Financial Assistance. Will I automatically receive this award?
- Will Student Volunteers be able to experience some of the exhibits and other conference events?
- What is a Student Volunteer expected to do at SIGGRAPH 2015?
- What is a Team Leader expected to do at SIGGRAPH 2015?
- Where can I get more information about SIGGRAPH 2015 events and schedules?
Upon Acceptance and at SIGGRAPH 2015
- When will I be expected to arrive in Los Angeles?
- When is Student Volunteer check-in?
- When should I plan to leave Los Angeles?
- When is Student Volunteer check-out?
- I'm a Student Volunteer, and I received financial assistance. I will arrive a day early at the conference. Can I get an extra night of accommodation?
- I did not receive financial assistance from the Student Volunteer Program. What other options do I have for housing?
- I have been accepted as a Student Volunteer but am no longer able to attend the conference. Who should I notify?
- When will Student Volunteer work schedules be available?
- What happens if I have a scheduling conflict with work, school, an opportunity to interview at the conference, etc.?
- What are the “special shifts” that students can sign up to work?
- Are meals provided by the Student Volunteer Program?
- What should I wear during the conference?
- How early will I be expected to work?
- How late am I expected to work?
- I have a laptop with a wireless network card. Will I be able to connect to the internet at the Los Angeles Convention Center?
- I'm flying internationally. How early should I leave for the Los Angeles airport when I depart?
- Are cameras allowed into the conference?
- Am I allowed to bring personal items and bags to the convention center?
- What should I do if I am dismissed early from my shift?
- How do I get around the city and to the convention center?
- Am I responsible for my visa if I am traveling internationally?
- What are the passport and visa requirements if I am traveling internationally?
- What is a stuvol number, and how do I find mine?
Other
- My question is not in these FAQs. Who should I ask?
- Are there any student discounts for SIGGRAPH registration, just in case I am not accepted as a Student Volunteer?
- What does my ACM SIGGRAPH Student Membership get me?
- How do I apply for other areas of the SIGGRAPH conference?
- How do I apply for the SIGGRAPH Asia Student Volunteers Program?
Deadlines and Extensions
1. When will the application for the Student Volunteer Program be available?
The online application will be available in November.
2. When is the deadline to submit an application to the Student Volunteer Program?
The deadline for all completed Student Volunteer applications is 10 February 2015, 22:00 UTC/GMT). (Convert to your time zone.) Due to the high volume of applicants, we regret that we can not accept any late applications. Please note that you will be required to upload proof of full-time status (transcript or enrollment verification letter). We recommend that you allow ample time to gather this information from your institution before the due date. Without this documentation, your application will be marked as incomplete. Please comply with the submission deadlines and ensure that you submit your application by the appropriate day and time. We cannot make any exceptions for students due to miscalculation of the application deadline. Thank you for your understanding.
3. Can I submit the application to the Student Volunteer Program after the deadline?
No. The deadline is absolute. All submissions receive equal consideration up until the published deadline. Please respect other applicants and allow time for unforeseen circumstances in your submission including, but not limited to, network connectivity, equipment failures, job impacts, life or family events, etc. These are outside of SIGGRAPH 2015's direct control and cannot be administered fairly.
4. Why is this so absolute?
Firstly, the answer is fairness and equal opportunity for consideration. This respects the application process for everyone. Secondly, Student Volunteer deadlines were designed to maximize application development and quality for all applicants. Submission deadlines are set as late as possible, but they must also support quality in review, selection, and your volunteer efforts at SIGGRAPH 2015.
5. Are partial or incomplete submissions considered?
No. Volunteers are required to complete all application guidelines by the published deadline. The Student Volunteer Subcommittee will evaluate the merit of each completed application as it was submitted before the deadline even if it does not meet the applicant's personal quality objectives. Please allow enough time to meet your own quality goals.
6. How will SIGGRAPH 2015 address network failures?
SIGGRAPH 2015 is only responsible for the availability of the submission server. If the Student Volunteer Chair is notified of a hardware or service failure for the submission system, she will authorize an appropriate deadline adjustment and prominently post notices at several locations. Applications delayed by other network failures between your location and the SIGGRAPH server will not be exempted from the deadline. Please apply early to avoid connectivity-support problems or last-minute server performance. Note: The clock on the submission server determines the final submission deadline time: 22:00 GMC/UMT.
7. When and how will I be notified if I have been accepted?
All applicants who submit a completed application will be notified via email by 30 April 2015.
Applications
1. Where do I fill out and submit my application to be a Student Volunteer?
The application will be available here in November.
2. How do I apply to be a Student Volunteer Team Leader?
The application for becoming a Team Leader is the application form you submit to be a Student Volunteer plus an additional section. Please be sure to fill this section out as well in order to be considered a candidate for a Team Leader position. Applicants will be notified via email of their acceptance for Team Leader positions on or before 6 February 2015. Applicants who are not accepted as Team Leaders will still be considered for Student Volunteer positions (and will be notified of the final decision by 30 April 2015).
3. How do I apply for Financial Assistance?
The application for Financial Assistance is included within the application form you submit to be a Student Volunteer. There is a section of the application form devoted to this topic. Notifications of Travel and Housing Assistance will be emailed to those selected to be Student Volunteers between 30 April and 30 May 2015.
4. My email address will be changing soon. How can I notify you of the update?
You can change your contact information, including your email address, through the online submission system at any time.
5. I have completed the online submission form, but it still allows me to edit my account. Am I done?
Yes. However, you may edit your online submission account at any time until the deadline.
6. My school does not issue transcripts. What should I use for proof of student status instead?
Documents required for the application include a current transcript (official or unofficial) or an enrollment verification letter from your institution's registrar. This is to confirm that you were enrolled full time for at least one semester during the 2014-2015 academic year (Summer 2014 – Spring 2015). For international students unable to provide the document in English, please upload the original as a PDF. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Student Volunteer Subcommittee. We recommend that you allow ample time to gather this information from your institution before the due date. Otherwise your application will be marked as incomplete.
7. I am an international student with a grading system that does not match the traditional American grade-point-average system. How do I answer the question about my grade point average in the application?
The response fields are set up to accept two numbers: an average and an “out of” field, meaning the total possible points. For example, the typical American score would be something like 3.5/4.0, or 3.5 points out of 4.0. If there is any way that you can accurately translate your score to this (maybe an 83 out of 100, or 4.0 out of 5.0) format, please enter that as your answer. If the information does not translate, please enter N/A as your response, and we will understand the reasoning.
8. Does applying for financial assistance make me any more or less likely to be selected as a Student Volunteer?
Absolutely not.
General
1. On my application, I applied for Financial Assistance. Will I automatically receive this award?
No. Many students apply for Financial Assistance, so the decision process is very competitive. We understand that many students have financial hardships, but there is a limited budget for our program, and we cannot grant awards to every student who applies for assistance. Just being selected to be a student volunteer is an honor in itself. See Financial Assistance for more information.
2. Will Student Volunteers be able to experience some of the exhibits and other conference events?
Yes! This is one of the perks of being a Student Volunteer. You will have the equivalent of a Full Conference registration, so you will be able to go almost anywhere in the conference, except those places that require special access. The exhibit hall and most of the conference will be open to you during your free time.
3. What is a Student Volunteer expected to do at SIGGRAPH 2015?
Student Volunteers' jobs and activities can consist of anything from checking attendee badges at the sessions to assisting artists in the Studio and helping contributors with their installations. The jobs vary by program, length, and amount of involvement, but all play a very important role in running the conference.
4. What is a Team Leader expected to do at SIGGRAPH 2015?
Team Leader jobs and activities are similar to those of Student Volunteers but also include managing Student Volunteers in their areas and coordinating volunteer duties with SIGGRAPH 2015 Committee members. Typically, each Team Leader is assigned to a specific program and coordinates Student Volunteer staffing and tasks with that program's committee. Team Leaders also aid in training and supervising Student Volunteers, assisting committee members, assisting attendees, and problem solving. For more information, see Team Leaders.
5. Where can I find more information about SIGGRAPH 2015 events and schedules?
All information about SIGGRAPH 2015 can be found on the official web site.
Upon Acceptance and at SIGGRAPH 2015
1. When will I be expected to arrive in Los Angeles?
All accepted Student Volunteers MUST plan to arrive in Los Angeles no later than noon on Saturday, 8 August 2015, for check-in and Student Volunteer Orientation. This is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY for all new and returning Student Volunteers, as we will have important information to disseminate, and we may plan a few special events in the evening. Failure to arrive on time may result in loss of Student Volunteer status and all related benefits.
2. When is Student Volunteer check-in?
Student Volunteer check-in will take place in the Student Volunteer Office beginning at noon on 8 August 2015. Please plan your travel to arrive in Los Angeles NO LATER THAN NOON on 8 August. Check-in will be be followed by a MANDATORY Student Volunteer Orientation meeting.
3. When should I plan to leave Los Angeles?
All accepted Student Volunteers should plan to be available for work through 6:00 pm on Thursday, 13 August 2015. We highly recommend that students wait to depart until Friday, 14 August 2015, to celebrate a successful conference.
4. When is Student Volunteer check-out?
Student Volunteer check-out will take place in the Student Volunteer Office on the afternoon of Thursday, 13 August 2015.
5. I'm a Student Volunteer, and I received financial assistance. I will arrive a day early at the conference. Can I get an extra night of accommodation?
No. SIGGRAPH-provided housing for Student Volunteers is available for check-in on Saturday, 8 August 2015 and check-out on Friday, 14 August 2015 only.
6. I did not receive financial assistance from the Student Volunteer Program. What other options do I have for housing?
You may be interested in the discounted hotel accommodations available through the SIGGRAPH 2015 web site, which may help you share housing with other Student Volunteers. You can also connnect with other Student Volunteers through our Fan Page on Facebook. In late spring, we will be sending information about the Student Volunteer Forum to all confirmed Student Volunteers.
7. I have been accepted as a Student Volunteer but am no longer able to attend the conference. Who should I notify?
If you need to decline your position for any reason, please email the Student Volunteer Subcommittee as soon as possible so that we can make preparations for your absence.
8. When will Student Volunteer work schedules be available?
We plan to have schedules available for students to view about two weeks prior to the conference. Please note that this is not a hard deadline, and we reserve the right to change that date if necessary, but rest assured, we will release schedules as early as we can! Also please note: schedules are not final until 24 hours prior to the shift. We try to change schedules as little as possible, but sometimes situations arise that make adding, moving, and/or otherwise rescheduling certain shifts necessary. Students are responsible for checking their schedules daily to receive any schedule updates.
9. What happens if I have a scheduling conflict with work, school, an opportunity to interview at the conference, etc.?
When you apply to the Student Volunteer Program for SIGGRAPH 2015, you are pledging your availability for the entirety of the conference as well as the Saturday prior to it, 8-14 August 2015. You will only be assigned approximately the 25 hours you've applied for, but your availability during that time must be open. We cannot schedule you around work, school, extra-curricular activities, etc. If you do find yourself with some sort of outstanding opportunity during the conference, such as an interview for a job or internship, an appointment with a mentor, etc., we will do our best to work with you on your schedule conflict. Most shifts will be between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm, though there may be some specific shifts that last as late as 11:00 pm.
10. What are the "special shifts" that students can sign up to work?
Many shifts are general customer-service roles, like monitoring doors and providing directions to attendees. However, there are some shifts that require more specific skills, like a foreign language or video-editing background. There are also pre-conference and post-conference shifts that require students to be in Los Angeles early or late that fall into this category. Information about these shifts and how to sign up for them will be sent to all confirmed Student Volunteers in mid-to-late June.
11. Are meals provided by the Student Volunteers Program?
No. Each student is responsible for his or her own meals at the conference. Depending on available funding, Student Volunteers may receive a limited number of meal vouchers for use in the Los Angeles Convention Center's concessions. Depending on items purchased, this may cover only one meal at the convention center. Students should plan their budgets accordingly.
12. What should I wear during the conference?
Lightweight, comfortable clothes and shoes (appropriate T-shirts, polo shirts, shorts, jeans, trousers, sneakers). Many attendees dress casually during the conference, and formal business attire is generally not required. It is very important that you bring comfortable shoes! You will be walking quite a bit during the week, and comfort is key. Also, bring a light sweater, sweatshirt, or longer-sleeved shirt. All rooms inside the convention center are air-conditioned.
Please remember that this is a professional conference. If you are not sure if something is appropriate or could be considered offensive, please ask.
13. How early will I be expected to work?
Depending on the duties assigned, students may have shifts that start as early as 7:30 am. Students need to report to the Student Volunteer Office 30 minutes prior to their shift's start time to be marked present. Students will then be taken to their assignments by their Team Leader.
14. How late am I expected to work?
Most of the events will be finished around 6 or 7 pm at the latest. However, there are shifts that do run later. Some students may have schedules that run as late as 11 pm.
15. I have a laptop with a wireless network card. Will I be able to connect to the internet at the Los Angeles Convention Center?
Wireless service will be available in some areas of the convention center during SIGGRAPH 2015. The Student Volunteers office will also have connected computers available for Student Volunteer use during the conference.
16. I'm flying internationally. How early should I leave for the Los Angeles airport when I depart?
Most airlines require that you check in two hours in advance of your departure time for international flights. Please contact your airline for more specific information.
17. Are cameras allowed at the conference?
Many of the words, images, sounds, objects, and technologies presented at the SIGGRAPH conference are protected by copyright or patents. They are owned by the people who created them. So please respect their intellectual-property rights (and your own) by not recording or photographing in SIGGRAPH 2015’s programs and events. Outside of the programs and events, attendees are invited to take photos and publish them on social media platforms and personal blogs.
SIGGRAPH 2015 employs a professional photographer and reserves the right to use all images that this photographer takes during the conference for publication and promotion of future ACM SIGGRAPH events.
18. Am I allowed to bring personal items and bags to the convention center?
Yes. The Student Volunteer Office will have a limited number of lockers available for use during daytime hours to store personal items and bags. However, locks will not be provided, so please bring your own. SIGGRAPH 2015 is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
19. What should I do if I am dismissed early from my shift?
If you are dismissed early from your shift, you should inform your Team Leader on duty. If you cannot find your Team Leader, please report directly to the Student Volunteer Office.
20. How do I get around the city and to the convention center?
The convention center is within walking distance of conference hotels. For other destinations, please review this complete summary of transit options in and around LA.
21. Am I responsible for my visa if I am traveling internationally?
Yes! Please see How to Apply for a Visa for more information.
22. What are the passport and visa requirements if I am traveling internationally?
You are required to have a passport valid through February of 2015 on your person to enter the United States. You may also need a US visa. See How to Apply for a Visa.
23. What is a stuvol number and how do I find mine?
Your stuvol number is the number assigned to you when you create a SIS account and submit a Student Volunteer application. It should appear as stuvol_1234 or sv_1234. Your stuvol number should appear on your application, which you can log in and see until the submission deadline. You will need this number many, many times throughout the course of the program, so please memorize it now. Please also include it in any correspondence you may have with the Student Volunteer Subcommittee.
Other
1. My question is not in these FAQs. Who should I ask?
If your question is not answered on this web site, please send a message to the Student Volunteer Subcommittee. We will answer your question and post additional information on the web site, or send a message out to students if it applies to the student volunteer population as a whole. Please be sure to include your stuvol number in your email.
2. Are there any student discounts for SIGGRAPH registration, just in case I am not accepted as a Student Volunteer?
Yes! There are some great registration discounts offered to student members of ACM SIGGRAPH that you should check out. There are also early registration discounts that can help significantly reduce the price of registration. You can see other options and further details here.
3. What does my ACM SIGGRAPH Student Membership get me?
ACM SIGGRAPH Members (as well as student members) enjoy discounts on SIGGRAPH and SIGGRAPH Asia Conferences as well as partner conferences such as Eurographics, free access to Encore video presentations, substantial discounts on exciting products from select SIGGRAPH trade-show vendors during and after a SIGGRAPH conference, access to the SIGGRAPH portion of the content in the ACM Digital Library (including the proceedings of the SIGGRAPH annual conferences), archives of Computer Graphics Quarterly online, and a siggraph.org forwarding email address. In addition to all of these standard member benefits, SIGGRAPH Student Services (S3) offers year-long materials review, special presentations, and mentoring services to ACM SIGGRAPH Student Members focusing on computer graphics and interactive techniques (even if you can’t attend the conference). Check out their Facebook page .
4. How do I apply for other areas of the SIGGRAPH conference?
Please see the For Volunteers section of the SIGGRAPH 2015 web site.
5. How do I apply for the SIGGRAPH Asia Student Volunteer Program?
Student Volunteer applications are closed for SIGGRAPH Asia 2014, but please review opportunities for SIGGRAPH Asia 2015 after the web site becomes available in early 2015.