CIS Department Graduate Academic Advising
WelcomeGreetings from the Department of Computing and Information Sciences at Valparaiso University! It is my pleasure to serve as your Advising Coordinator for Graduate IT Programs. In addition, I work along side students in the MSIT Program with their internship or thesis plans, in the final semester of study. Within the Academic Advising pages of the CIS Department site, you will find valuable information that will assist you from day one on campus, to when you are preparing to graduate and move into a successful career as an IT Professional. ~Kimberly Jana Tomkiewicz |
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Advising and Internship Coordinator of Graduate IT Programs
Kimberly Jana Tomkiewicz, MA, MALS
Department of Computing and Information Sciences
kim.tomkiewicz@valpo.edu
Gellersen Hall 122B
219-464-6416 (Office)
Kim.Tomkiewicz@valpo.edu
Education
M.A.L.S. – Valparaiso University, IN
M.A. – Ball State University, IN
B.A. – Franklin College, IN
Courses Taught
Exposition and Persuasion
Literary Studies
College Composition
Intermediate Composition
Integrated Reading and Writing
MLA, APA, Turabian and AP style tutoring
Professional Writing Skills
Library Research Skills
Recognitions
Honored by the Graduate Studies Department at Valparaiso University – Presentation on creative writing.
Honored guest by the BSU Department of Journalism for work on Hall of Fame Kiosk.
Thesis accepted by the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).
Master’s thesis: “An Attitudinal Study of Job Satisfaction for Full-Time, On-Air Female Personalities at Commercial Radio Stations in Indiana,” presented during the International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity Fall 2002 conference in Durham, England.
Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Society in Journalism/Mass Communication– Ball State University Spring 2002.
President of Gold Quill/Laurels and Lancers Academic Honorary – Franklin College
Biography
Early in life, Kimberly enjoyed nothing more than reading, or writing, her own stories. This lead to a remarkable career in middle and high school journalism, including being an alternative rock DJ for over five years. While spinning records and editing reel-to-reel was enjoyable, it did not provide the needed professional growth and stimulation that she was looking for…which lead to her earning two Master Degrees… and to a love of academic research and student advising.
Now as the Adviser and Internship Coordinator for the Graduate IT Program, Kimberly is adding to her accomplished career in higher education as an administrative team member and instructor with a very strong record of promoting and assisting with student success. She has over a decade of working with students from racially and ethnically diverse populations, as well as at-risk and non-traditional students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to establish student-centered goals with attainable results.
When she isn’t at work, Kimberly, and her husband Ryan, are busy tending to their son Nicholas and indoctrinating him to their version of Music 101 – supporting National Record Store Day at Reckless Records in Chicago, listening to a wide array of music – from of Montreal, Gomez, Oasis and the Beatles, with a little Sergei Rachmaninoff and Frank Sinatra on the side. And, she feels especially blessed to always have a hot cup of coffee waiting for her at her parents home, when she picks up Nicholas after work.
In-Person Appointments |
You can find available dates and time on this link to meet with the Graduate IT Advisor in GEM122B.
If you have an in-person with your Academic Advisor, you must bring your Valparaiso University One Card (student identification) to every meeting. Student meetings are approximately fifteen minutes in length.
Be sure that your computer is set to CST (Central Standard Time), so that the meetings times reflect the time-zone that Valparaiso is in. In order to book an appointment, you must have a valid Valparaiso University Gmail account.
Students who DO NOT show up on time will not have their appointment honored. Student’s will have to reschedule their meeting.
Drop-In Appointments |
Students who drop by the Academic Advisor’s office will not be guaranteed time to meet. It is always best to plan ahead and email the academic advisor or schedule one 15 minute appointment.
Welcome to Valparaiso University
Important Acedemic Information for Registration
⇒ Arrive at Valparaiso at least 1 week before the registration starts – the Graduate School contacts all new students with New Student Orientation
information for both domestic an international students.
⇒ Meet with academic advisor during New Student Orientation to register for classes.
⇒ Get your One Card at the Christopher Center Library Services building.
International Students
⇒ Submit your Passport, I-20, I 94 in Office of International Programs (OIP) (international students only).
Graduate Catalogs
IT Computing Track |
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IT Management Track |
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Cyber Security |
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Course Description
Course Descriptions help you in exploring the information and topics that are covered in each course. You can estimate whether a course is relevant to your interest of study or not. You can choose the courses (except core subjects that are must) that best suites your academic interests.
Cohort Register Classes
1st Semester Cohort Classes |
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9 credit hour schedule ⇒ IT-502 Introduction to Programming ⇒ IT-510 Introduction to Information ⇒ English Class (LS608 or ENGL 502) ⇒ GRD-500 Graduate Student Success 9 credit hours – Standard Advising Plan
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2nd Semester Cohort Classes |
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9-12 credit hour schedule ⇒ GRD-683 Professional and Career ⇒ IT Course(s) |
3rd Semester Cohort Classes |
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9-12 Credit Hours Schedule ⇒ IT Course(s) |
4th Semester Capstone Experience |
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3-9 Credit Hours Schedule ⇒ Internship (maximum 3 credits) ⇒ Research Project ⇒ Thesis |
Holds
You are not allowed register for courses if there is any of the following holds on your account.
Advising Hold – Will be placed on your account prior to registration. You must communicate with your advisor regarding your intended schedule to have the advising hold lifted from your account.
Student Health Center – If you have not submitted all necessary health documents (international students only) to the VU Health Center. You must work with that office to have this hold removed.
Graduate School – The Graduate School may have an administrative hold on your account. You must work with that office to have this hold removed.
Student Account Hold – If you have outstanding dues you must contact Student Accounts office in Kretzmann Hall to remove the hold on your account.
Transportation (From Chicago O’Hare International Airport)
• CoachUSA provides bus services from Chicago airport to Portage (13 miles from Valparaiso) for every 1 hour. Students can wait outside the terminal at bus bay to catch the bus.
• Students must take only “airport super saver” (imprinted on buses) that drops the passengers at portage.
• Ask the driver to call the university official you are in touch to pick you from portage. University will arrange transportation from portage to University.
Academic Terms
- The Spring Semester begins in January 6 and ends in May 3 (16 weeks).
- Must register for minimum of 8 credits to maximum of 12 credits to maintain legal F-1 status
- The Summer Semester begins in May 17 and ends August 5 (14 weeks).
- Is not considered a traditional semester by the US Department of Education or the US Government.
- Students are allowed to take the summer semester off without penalty to their academic progress within the IT or CYB programs.
- the Fall Semester beings in August and ends in December (16 weeks)
- Must register for minimum of 8 credits to maximum of 12 credits to maintain legal F-1 status
Graduate Catalogs
IT Computing Track |
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IT Management Track |
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Cyber Security |
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Transfer of Credit
Students who have already completed a master-level program of study may submit official copies of their transcripts to be reviewed for transfer of credit. The CIS department will determine if any credits can be applied towards the IT Computing or Management programs. There is no guarantee that transfer of credits will be accepted by the University.
Internship
Internship helps students to apply their classroom experience in real-time working environment to gain professional experience that acts as a foundation in building up their further career. Internships are paid/unpaid and it depends on the organization that is offering the internship.
Research Project
It helps you in preparing your own project applying the concepts and skills you gained from your course program. It involves writing thesis, explanation and publishing the project.
Finding an Internship |
Valparaiso University (various departments within the University)
Valparaiso University Career Center offers advising to students on Internship sites, Jobs & career plans and also it helps them to build professional resumes, cover letters etc that are important in professional career. ⇒ Suggesting Internship sites and Job Offers ⇒ Mock Interviews ⇒ Works shops/Career Fairs ⇒ Helping Students to build their own professional resume and cover letter ⇒ Advising to students on career plans
All available positions in Valparaiso University are posted on this website and students can apply to them by simply uploading resume and cover letter. A great place to find internship opportunities offered by various companies across United states. ⇒ Login with your University’s mail and password. ⇒ Update your profile in view profile tab. ⇒ Look for any notifications on top right corner of the website. ⇒ Type your preferred position in search bar to look for new openings. |
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) |
International students on F-1 visa status must receive CPT authorization for off-campus internships and for on-campus internships over twenty hours per week. CPT status is only granted if an internship site has been approved by the CIS Department and all mandatory coursework has been successfully completed. International students must complete two traditional semesters (fall/spring) before they are allowed to apply for CPT status.
Students must register for and complete an internship during the semester they are on CPT.
For more information on CPT authorization, please click here
Full-Time vs Part-Time |
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Internship Forms
Internship Form Self-Transportation Agreement Placement Agreement
(Completed forms must be submitted to the departments as mentioned below. Upload the documents to iValpo after approval.)
Graduate IT Programs Advisor |
Graduate School |
iValpo |
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Click on the image below to visit iValpo |
Finding an Internship |
Valparaiso University (various departments within the University)
Valparaiso University Career Center offers advising to students on Internship sites, Jobs & career plans and also it helps them to build professional resumes, cover letters etc that are important in professional career. ⇒ Suggesting Internship sites and Job Offers ⇒ Mock Interviews ⇒ Works shops/Career Fairs ⇒ Helping Students to build their own professional resume and cover letter ⇒ Advising to students on career plans
All available positions in Valparaiso University are posted on this website and students can apply to them by simply uploading resume and cover letter. A great place to find internship opportunities offered by various companies across United states. ⇒ Login with your University’s mail and password. ⇒ Update your profile in view profile tab. ⇒ Look for any notifications on top right corner of the website. ⇒ Type your preferred position in search bar to look for new openings. |
Academic Policies |
—————————————— Honor Code ———————————————-
” I have neither given or received, nor have I tolerated other’s use of unauthorized aid. “
Every Student must follow the honor code in doing & submitting their assignments. Honor Code helps students get their credit for the work they have done on their own. Every student must write this code in their course work which means that they did the work on their own and they own it.
Honor Code Violations:
• Disapproval of submitted work/assignment
• Present before honor court for prosecution
Grading System and Quality Points
The course grades reported and recorded in the Office of the Registrar are as follows. The corresponding number of quality points per credit hour is also indicated
For Grades Description, Click here
For Academic Policies, Click here
All students, degree and non-degree seeking, must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 (B = 3.00) in all graduate work undertaken at Valparaiso University.
Grades A through C generate semester credits and quality points in meeting degree requirements, but no more than three credit hours of C or C+ may be counted toward meeting degree requirements. Grades of C- and below do not constitute credit toward the degree, but are included on the student’s transcript and are calculated into the student’s official cumulative grade point average.
A student who receives a grade of C+ or lower in a second course is placed on academic probation and receives an official notice from the Graduate School. The student must replace one of these grades within one academic year or will be dropped from the program. Receipt of a third grade of C+ or lower will result in dismissal from the Graduate School.
Final Examinations
3 credit courses |
2 credit courses |
Online courses |
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Academic Calendar
Academic calendar contains important dates (Registration & Classes begin), Final Examination period, Holidays, semester breaks, starting and ending dates of academic terms. Click on the link below to view the academic calendar.
