The computer science department values its interactive relationships with the corporate community, both within the Research Triangle and beyond.

 

CSC 2024-25 Premium Engagement Opportunities

ePartners can select one of the Premium Engagement Opportunities listed below for every $2,500 of support provided to the ePartners Program. Each of the programs, initiatives, events, and student orgs listed below is critical to the department's mission, vision and/or ongoing operation, and many provide exceptional opportunities to engage directly with students and faculty, while increasing corporate exposure and brand awareness. Audiences targeted for each engagement option are designated by the following symbols: Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Alumni, Faculty, Outreach.

Ambassadors Program

The NC State Computer Science Student Ambassadors program is a very select group of approximately 30 undergraduate students who represent our department in a variety of academic, social, and networking events held throughout the academic year, and through personal interface with prospective students through our K-12 outreach efforts. During their time as ambassadors, we are committed to providing guidance and development opportunities that promote enhanced leadership, communication, and other vital life skills. ePartners selecting this option have the opportunity to engage directly with this group via structured opportunities such as dedicated mixers, panels, info sessions and/or development sessions.

Code Black Networking Sessions

Code Black is dedicated to solidifying the presence of black students in NC State's computer science department by providing opportunities for community development, professional success and departmental interactions. ePartners selecting this option will have the opportunity to participate in one or more networking sessions throughout the academic year, as well as have access to a resume book with resumes of all participating student members. Funding will also supply resources for planning sessions for Code Black throughout the academic year.

Code Black Tech Summit [max of 6 slots]

In honor of Black History Month, in February Code Black will host a summit celebrating Black contributions to technology. The Code Black Tech Summit will involve panels hosted by professors and industry leaders, networking events and career workshops for students, live coding competitions and other opportunities to build and celebrate the community of Black computer scientists. ePartners selecting this option will have the opportunity to contribute to the networking and career workshops for the event, and will be recognized on marketing and promotional materials for the event. ePartners may also be selected by Code Black to contribute industry speakers for their panels.

Computing Success Center (CSCenter)

The Computing Success Center is an initiative to develop a departmental community and provide education support for core undergraduate computer science courses. The CSCenter provides a locus of student support that features both physical and virtual spaces for students to find resources and help; connect with peers, advisors, and faculty; and find ways to engage in outreach, service, and research. ePartners selecting this option will be invited to meet with Peer Teaching Fellows, a select group of undergraduate and graduate student-teachers in our department, and to offer workshops through the CSCenter.

CyberSecurity Competitions

CyberSecurity competitions, like ‘Capture the Flag’, are security events that provide a unique isolated environment for exercising the students' abilities in the security domain. The students must gather "flags" by identifying vulnerabilities in security challenges. Not only do students get a chance to test their knowledge in security-related topics, they also get a chance to network with industry professionals and other students who have similar interests. By creating a safe and isolated environment for the competition, the students have the ability to test their security skills in practice, learn about new security problems while having fun at the same time. ePartners selecting this option are welcome to participate or mentor students in these events.

CyberSecurity Initiative (counts as two selections)

The CSC Cybersecurity Initiative is a comprehensive strategy designed to address the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals across both industry and government. The central point for the initiative is the Secure Computing Institute (SCI). The mission of the Secure Computing Institute (SCI). is to enhance the security and privacy of computing systems for the betterment of society through (1) performing basic and applied research; and (2) advancing and delivering cybersecurity education. Within the computer science department and the SCI many cybersecurity initiatives are underway, including the undergraduate Cybersecurity Concentration, which includes a cybersecurity focused practicum course (CSC 472) . The department plans to launch a Masters in Cybersecurity degree program in the Fall of 2026. A student research track was added to the yearly cybersecurity symposium, and a cybersecurity speaker series was launched. Close collaboration with industry and government entities is pivotal in helping shape these endeavors. Support from ePartners toward this initiative will provide unrestricted support and backing of the Director of Cybersecurity Practice’s efforts to create and launch related outreach programs, industry engagements, seminars, workshops and other developmental programs for students in the cybersecurity field. ePartners selecting this option will be recognized as corporate affiliates of the initiative and be invited to a select set of events and activities (live and/or virtual) throughout the year to engage with students and faculty, be provided priority access to sponsor practicum projects, and receive free admission to the annual cybersecurity symposium in February (with guest speaker opportunities and priority access to sponsorship/exhibit opportunities for the symposium). For an additional fee, ePartners selecting this PEO can provide scholarships to Women in Cybersecurity yearly conference.

Diploma Ceremony - Fall or Spring

Both fall and spring ceremonies are regularly attended by 1200 - 1500 graduates, family, friends and faculty. Because of the size and distinguished nature of these ceremonies, they are traditionally held in large venues such as Reynolds Coliseum or one of the mega churches in the area. ePartners selecting this option will be invited to attend a ceremony, and possibly provide a guest speaker.

Distinguished Series on Ethics and Safety of AI in Society

AI technologies are upending business models in virtually every industry. ChatGPT has shaken up many processes and practitioners, even in venerated industries such as education. Surprising to many is that white-collar jobs (such as in law or software development) will need to adapt rapidly, perhaps more so than blue-collar jobs. This lecture series will host distinguished speakers on ethics and safety in AI, specifically, topics such as algorithmic accountability, fairness and diversity, autonomous agents, and safety engineering. It will invite perspectives from related fields that can guide computer scientists. To engage and develop our students' leadership skills, unlike in typical lectures, we will follow each lecture with a discussion led by one or two selected students. We will expect our speakers to be available for the whole day for discussions with faculty and students. We expect to organize four seminars depending on funding support.

eNewsletter

This departmental e-newsletter is distributed monthly to approximately 10,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni (those for whom we have email addresses), and corporate contacts. News items are segmented and distributed by audience category and linked back to the complete eNews online site. ePartners selecting this option will be recognized in each pulication.

Graduate Awards

These will recognize CSC graduate students selected at the end of the academic year in four categories: Outstanding Research Assistant, Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Outstanding Dissertation and Masters Research award winners.

Graduate Recruitment Initiative

Attracting US-based candidates for graduate studies in computer science has become increasingly competitive. ePartners support provides the graduate office incremental funding to support the recruitment of US Ph.D. and M.S. students, including recruitment visits, entertainment, and print collateral. ePartners selecting this option will be invited to attend related events.

Hack_NCState [max of 15 slots]

Hack_NCState is NC State’s largest, all-inclusive hackathon competition. Established in 2018, the 24-hour event is hosted by the Hack_NCState Student Organization, sanctioned by Major League Hacking, and is open to high school, undergrad and grad students. Attendees can work individually or in small teams to develop a creative software solution to any problem they want to address. The event is comparable to UNC’s HackNC and Duke’s HackDuke, all of which are nationally recognized and well-established hackathons. Hack_NCState has grown steadily year over year, and is projected to attract 200-300 participants annually. In order to maximize the number of students able to participate in the hackathon, regardless of age, major, or programming ability, Hack_NCState provides attendees with a variety of technical workshops - organized by partnering companies, students, and on-campus organizations - to help them pick up and apply new skills during the event. ePartners selecting this option can engage with students by providing speakers, hosting workshops, sending recruiters, or engaging via specific “tracks” to get students to interact with their software or product offerings. For more information, please visit the Hack_NCState website at https://hackncstate.org/.

HackPack Capture The Flag (CTF) Competition

This computer and AI security competition, hosted by CSC student organization HackPack every spring semester, allows teams to compete (in person or virtually) in a wide range of challenges to find “the flag”, a secret accessible only by exploiting a vulnerability. It promotes an interest in computer security issues, encourages teamwork, and stimulates out of the box thinking. It is an educational CTF that aims to complement security courses at North Carolina State University and educate the wider public practically in a wide range of security topics. The competition is open to the public and we make a strong effort to encourage NC State students, as well as high school students from the surrounding area, to participate. In the past years HackPack CTF attracted more than a thousand participants per competition from all over the world. ePartners selecting this option may be invited to participate as panelists in the competition.

LadyWolf CSC Secrets Packages

This is a special outreach initiative targeting female high school students who have been accepted at NC State University, expressing an interest in studying computer science. The initiative will provide a special package to be mailed to EVERY admitted female student, which will include hand-written notes and valuable information about what to expect when they arrive on campus, what life is like for a computer science student at NC State, and what are some of the secrets to success in the major. The package will also include a variety of departmental SWAG ranging from mouse pads, laptop stickers and a special T-shirt. Packages will be assembled by our CSC student ambassadors and mailed in the spring. ePartners selecting this option can provide their own branded SWAG, recruiting materials, etc. to be included in the package.

Latino Association for Computer Science - LA/CSC

LA/CSC is a new student organization dedicated to strengthening the presence of Latino and Hispanic students in NC State's computer science department by creating social recognition, giving guidance to incoming and existing students, and developing opportunities for professional growth. ePartners selecting this option will have the opportunity to participate in one or more networking sessions throughout the academic year, have access to a resume book of participating students, and assist in a student-led event in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Funding will contribute resources for planning sessions for LA/CSC throughout the academic year.

Navigating Networking Event [max of 3]

This program will offer graduate students an opportunity to gain insights into the proper etiquette for business receptions/networking events, and also how to best leverage these events to expand their network. A speaker will lead a short training program, followed by a networking reception allowing sponsors to mingle with the students. This event will be attended by graduate students, making it an effective event for previewing tech talent at the graduate level. Navigating Networking is typically scheduled for late August or early September, early in the fall semester. ePartners selecting this option will be expected to send representatives to interact with students during the program, and may provide company branded materials/giveaways if desired. In-person event attendance is typically between 100-115 students.

Outreach & Broadening Participation Initiative

This broad initiative involves a comprehensive strategy designed to broaden participation of under-represented student groups entering the computer science discipline at NC State. It addresses both attraction and retention, with a strategic focus on increasing diversity in the talent pipeline. Our comprehensive multi-media communications campaign involves developing outreach connections with targeted high schools and middle schools, identifying and connecting with expanded pool of prospects, updating and refining all collateral and promotional materials, making ongoing enhancements and updates to the Future Students web portal to include the creation of 2-3 alumni profile features and/or videos each semester, and developing sound evaluation methods and tools. Retention-focused efforts include, but not limited to our special “mindset” video series in CSC intro classes, unique conference experiences, developmental/training opportunities, mentoring efforts, networking events, etc.

Progressive Dinner [max of 12]

This unique networking event is provided exclusively for CSC undergraduate students, and is scheduled for the spring in the Talley Student Center on main campus. The dinner will consist of three courses, and students will rotate to different ePartner tables for each course. ePartners selecting this option will be expected to send up to two representatives to engage directly with students, and will be provided a resume book of all attendees. Participating companies will be given time to address students with their company’s “elevator pitch” provided in lightning fashion.

Senior Design Center Partner - Fall or Spring

As our department prepares students to 'think and do the extraordinary', the Senior Design Center (SDC) allows our undergraduates to showcase their skills in this required 'capstone' project course. Students work in teams to solve real-world challenges by developing software solutions. The SDC staff guides them from a multidisciplinary perspective, helping students apply their technical expertise and problem-solving skills, while enhancing their writing, speaking, project management and collaboration skills. Partner support will help cover the cost of a service project or a student-proposed entrepreneurial project for a semester that would otherwise go unfunded. Note that is not the same as a company-defined student project sponsorship. ePartners selecting this option will be invited to student presentations giving project status updates and to the course's 'Posters & Pies' exposition at the end of the semester. Additionally, your organization will be identified as the supporter of the project.

Strategic Advisory Board Networking Breakfast & Lunch

Held on the day of the SAB’s annual meeting, these events provide our SAB members an opportunity to network with various members of our faculty, staff, and key student leaders. If ePartners selecting this option are not represented on the SAB, an invitation to attend the breakfast and/or lunch will be issued.

STARS Student Org - Shaping the Future of Tech Talent

The NC State chapter of STARS Computing Corps (STARS) is your chance to directly impact the future of computer science. STARS is a student-run organization dedicated to two crucial missions, 1) Building a Diverse Tech Pipeline: STARS empowers students from historically marginalized communities by fostering leadership, technical skills, and a strong sense of belonging in computing. Our K-12 outreach programs, reaching hundreds of students annually, ignite early interest in computer science. 2) Developing Tomorrow's Tech Leaders: We equip our undergraduate and graduate members with the skills they need to succeed. Through mentoring workshops, career development programs, and research conference support, we transform students into future leaders of the tech industry. Engage with STARS through - Mentoring & Career Talks: Share your expertise and inspire NCSU students. K-12 Outreach: Motivate young minds and build relationships with future talent. Events & Recognition: Participate in workshops, competitions, and our year-end celebration dinner. RTP Company/Campus Tours: Connect with students on your home turf (for local partners). Our theme for 2024-2025 is Shift your Mindset: Build Connections.

WiCS (Women in Computer Science)

Launched in 2002, WiCS is a student organization with a mission of improving the attraction and retention rates for women in the computer science field. ePartners provide funding that allows our organization to build community, and participate in outreach events and initiatives such as NC State’s annual Sisterhood Dinner and the national Grace Hopper Celebration with significant impact. ePartners selecting this option have the opportunity to engage directly with this group via structured opportunities such as dedicated mixers, panels, info sessions hack-a-thons and/or development sessions.

WiCS ‘Coding Nights’

This WiCS-hosted initiative provides for a series of structured coding challenge events (2-3/semester) that engage WiCS members, but are open to all CSC students. Coding nights are one of WiCS’s most popular events because they prepare students for technical coding job interviews. The event is typically 1 hour long, and sponsors present 2-3 coding problems that students might see in a technical interview for your company. Students work individually on the problems for 20-30 minutes, then company representatives walk through the problems and answer any questions. ePartners will engage directly with participants to solve the challenge while sharing internship and career opportunities. Additionally, students are also given grants to attend tech events/ conferences, access coding platforms, purchase books for cracking technical interviews, etc.

WiCS Workshop Series

This WiCS-hosted initiative provides a series of scheduled workshops, talks, panel sessions, and/or interactive group discussions held throughout the academic year. Sessions are themed around a variety of special interest topics from providing support, encouragement, and advocacy for women in computing to hosting interactive technical workshops to showcase new company technologies. ePartners selecting this option have the opportunity to engage directly with this group by attending and participating in discussions as mentors, panelists, presenters, etc.

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The opportunities listed below DO NOT count as PEO selections. Instead, they are considered extra support and may be used by Super ePartners to satisfy their incremental support levels:

Aspirations Scholarships ($2,500)

These are awarded annually to a student who has won a regional or national NCWIT Aspirations Awards and who comes to NC State to study computer science. Awards are targeted at entering freshmen, and are renewable for up to four years given the student remains academically eligible and makes satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree in computer science. Donations in support of this opportunity, like all scholarships, are considered “restricted” and can be used only for the purpose of the scholarship.

CyberSecurity Awareness ($2,500)

Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. Yet not everyone has the knowledge and tools to protect themselves against cyberattacks that threaten their personal and sensitive data. In a year of unprecedented cyberattacks against institutions of higher learning, now is the time to join forces to raise cybersecurity awareness. We need your help! The NC State Office of Information Technology and the NC State Department of Computer Science provides year-round campus activities and events designed to address the cybersecurity needs of our students, faculty and staff. This fiscal year, we will reinforce the message that cybersecurity is every Wolfpack member’s responsibility with intentional and creative content that we hope to deliver both online live and in-person. Our most recent events were centered around Data Privacy Month and National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. ePartners selecting this option will be invited to participate in these activities as well as other events that promote security awareness across campus and to provide ideas to help students pursue their career interests in cybersecurity.

Sr. Design Center Student Project ($7,500)

Each semester, corporations from across the nation provide real-world learning experiences for our students. You simply provide a problem statement and a mentor to work with the team, and we will provide talented students suited to the needs of your project. Under the direction of the Senior Design Center staff, our student teams follow a software development methodology, develop project documentation, and present progress reviews. This unique academic and experiential focus gives students the opportunity to enhance their communication, collaboration, project management and leadership skills. This creates a true "win-win" situation for both our sponsors and our students. For more information on project proposal submissions, click here.

Welcome Back Pack the Oval Party [$2,500]

This popular event (previously known as the Welcome Back Bash), typically held at the start of the fall semester, is hosted by the eCouncil and all the engineering departments and their student organizations and serves as the official welcome back for students, faculty & staff to the new school year. It is traditionally held in the Masnari Gateway at EB2 and around the Engineering Oval, and features a DJ, games & activities, some food trucks, snow-cones, ice cream and refreshing beverages. 30+ Engineering Student organizations and event sponsors typically have a presence with table-top displays and use this as a recruiting event. We expect the event to attract between 1500-2000 students this year. Your sponsorship helps cover entertainment, equipment rental, catering, door prizes, etc.