Penn State Operations Research

Intercollege Dual-Title Degree Graduate Program In Operations Research

Colloquium Requirements

  • Coordinator: Jose A. Ventura; Office: 356 Leonhard Building; Phone: 814-865-3841; E-mail: jav1@psu.edu
  • Requirements:
    • Attendance to ALL (In-person and Remote) SEMINARS is mandatory; only one absence is allowed to receive a passing grade; an appeal is required for the absence.
    • A one-page Assessment Sheet for each seminar. For in-person seminars, the assessment sheet should be submitted to the coordinator at the end of the seminar. For remote or web seminars, it should be uploaded on Canvas by Friday of the seminar week.
    • An email will be emailed to you for each web seminar, which will include a list of possible video seminars for you to watch. You will need to select a seminar and watch it anytime between Tuesday and Friday of the seminar week.
    • Three In-depth Seminar Critiques due at the end of the semester.
    • An unapproved absence requires one additional in-depth critique.
  • Absence:
    • Absence of a missed seminar must be appealed in writing to the coordinator. An appeal should have your name, student number, the date of seminar missed and the reason(s). The appeal must be delivered within one week of the absence. E-mail appeals are acceptable. You are encouraged to obtain approval before missing a seminar.
  • Required Professional Behavior during the Talks:
    • THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR BEING IN THE CLASSROOM DURING THE COLLOQUIUM IS TO LISTEN TO THE SPEAKER. NO OTHER ACTIVITY IS APPROPRIATE AND HENCE NO OTHER ACTIVITY WILL BE ALLOWED, INCLUDING READING OF NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS, TEXTING, DOING ASSIGNMENTS FROM OTHER COURSES, etc.
    • USE OF LAPTOPS AND CELL PHONES IS NOT ALLOWED WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.
    • STUDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE “LOUD” PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS DURING TALKS.
    • STUDENTS VIOLATING ANY OF THE ABOVE WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM AND WILL BE MARKED ABSENT FOR THE PARTICULAR SEMINAR.
    • PLEASE BE IN THE CLASSROOM FROM 4:50 PM UNTIL THE DISMISSAL OF THE CLASS.
  • Guidelines to Complete the Assessment Sheets:
    • Answer questions in complete sentences. One-word answers (e.g., Yes, No, OK, fine, etc.) are not allowed.
    • Please, do not include equations.
  • Guidelines for In-Depth Critiques:
    • If you are registered in OR 590 for credit, you are responsible for ‘in-depth’ critiques for three seminars this semester.
    • The in-depth critiques should be double-spaced and three pages in length (font size 12 in Times New Roman) with 1” top and bottom margins and 1.25” left and right margins. The critiques should discuss the major points of the seminar presentation, and assess the proposed methodology or analysis of the problem.
    • Copies of PowerPoint presentations or related papers may be provided by speakers and available on CANVAS to help you complete the critiques
    • Please, do not include equations or pictures from the slides of presentations.
    • The format of the critiques must follow the outline shown below.
    • You are not allowed to submit critiques of seminars you did not attend.
    • Please, do not write a critique before the seminar is presented.
    • The in-depth critiques should be uploaded on Canvas at any time during the semester.
    • The last day to submit the critiques is May 2, 2025 (11:59 pm).

Contents of a Seminar Assessment Sheet

Date:
Your Name: ______________________
Speaker’s Name:
Title of the Talk:

  1. Clarity of Presentation (Please do not just provide Yes or No answers)
    • Was the speaker clear in presenting his/her work?
    • Were the PowerPoint slides clear / well-prepared?
    • Did the speaker conduct himself/herself well during the presentation?
  2. Content of the Presentation
    • Comment on the organization of the presentation
    • Overall understanding of the topic (Please do not just write a percentage of understanding)
  3. What are the three most significant ideas that you have gained from this presentation?

Outline for an In-Depth Seminar Critique

Title: A Review of “_______________” (title of the talk) by “_____________” (name of the speaker.)

  1. Overview of Seminar Subject.
  2. Key Topics.
  3. Contributions of the Work Presented to the Tools or Practice of Operations Research.
  4. Assessment of the Presentation (as opposed to the work)
    • Transparencies
    • Other visual aids
    • Speaking style
    • Organization of the presentation
    • Addressing questions
  5. Summary (strengths, weaknesses and benefit you received by attending).