MADS students bond with community in Ann Arbor during inaugural on-campus experience

Students get a tour of the U-M Museum of Art during the MADS On-Campus Experience.

MADS students explore the University of Michigan Law Quad.

Students tour the Law Quad during the MADS On-Campus Experience.

Students walk past the Michigan Union during the MADS On-Campus Experience.

Students sit in groups at tables in a large classroom, chatting with one another, with sheets of paper in front of them.

Students participate in icebreaker activities during the MADS On-Campus Experience.

Kevyn Collins-Thompson, associate professor, participates in icebreaker activities with students.

Interim dean Elizabeth Yakel stands at a podium facing a small crowd of students. To her right, there is a banner of UMSI's mascot, Mumsi (a squirrel wearing VR goggles).

Interim dean Elizabeth Yakel addresses students, faculty, staff and alumni during a reception at the MADS On-Campus Experience.

Lecturer and researcher Elle O’Brien gives a lightning talk during the MADS On-Campus Experience.

Professor Qiaozhu Mei gives a lightning talk.

Monday, 10/09/2023

By Martha Spall

Students in the University of Michigan School of Information’s 100% online master’s degree program in data science came to U-M’s Ann Arbor campus from all over to celebrate together during Homecoming Weekend.

The inaugural, optional Master of Applied Data Science On-Campus Experience drew over 60 MADS students to meet peers, faculty and staff in person, visit UMSI spaces, and enjoy beautiful Ann Arbor in the fall.

“When the student leaders from the Master of Applied Data Science Association proposed this experience, we knew it would be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the MADS community,” said Allison Sweet, assistant director of student life at UMSI.

“The on-campus experience was a great chance for students to build relationships with staff, faculty, alumni and other students while reinforcing their connection with UMSI and the University of Michigan.”

The two-day event kicked off on Friday, Sept. 22 with a welcome reception and lunch in North Quad, followed by lightning talks from UMSI faculty.

Students heard research highlights from professors Ron Eglash and Qiaozhu Mei, associate professor David Jurgens and lecturer III Elle O’Brien, with topics including machine learning and automation for the artisanal economy, human-centered data science, and large language models.

Students quickly settled into a team-building session that followed faculty lightning talks, facilitated by the UMSI Engaged Learning Office.

The exercises called for skills that MADS students also use in real-world data science projects, including prototyping, comfort with discomfort, learning in groups, asking questions, iteration and learning by doing.

For example, in “Human Bingo,” students were given grids of traits and challenged to find five different people whose traits lined up. For “Surprise Portrait,” students paired up and drew each other without looking down at their papers.

MADS students Pooja Ippalapelli and Lauralyn Curry-Leech met for the first time in this session. They bonded over the “struggle” of creating each other’s surprise portraits.

Students walk past north quad — MADS students Lauralyn Curry-Leech (far left) and Pooja Ippalapelli chat as they walk outside by North Quad.

“It was super fun to get to know people by trying to solve a problem together,” Ippalapelli said.

They were both happy to make connections on campus and stuck together through afternoon events, including a campus tour.

“The flexible, remote nature of the MADS program is great, but I was also really excited to have the opportunity to be on campus again after coming here as a kid,” said Curry-Leach.

“I agree,” Ippalapelli said, “I was thrilled when I saw an on-campus MADS event because sometimes it’s easier to put names to faces in person. Just starting conversations with people, you can realize that you have a lot in common with them.”

Conversation certainly filled North Quad Space 2435 as students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and family gathered for the afternoon’s UMSI community reception.

In addition to everyone’s personal wins, there was a lot of big School of Information news to discuss: the inaugural water access and conservation theme year; the recommendation of Andrea Forte as the new dean of UMSI; the DEI 2.0 plan; and record-setting enrollment numbers.

Interim Dean Elizabeth Yakel spoke proudly of these community milestones in her address at the reception and gave a special shout out to MADS students.

“When MADS launched, our students shared their excitement about being a part of our community without ever having to step foot in Ann Arbor,” Yakel said. “While we are proud that MADS students get a Michigan education that does not rely on place, we still longed to share our Ann Arbor UMSI community with them. Now, several years later, here we are with over 60 MADS students in Ann Arbor on a lovely fall weekend. Not only do we have a home football game, but an exceptional alumni community to network with as they get to know this place so many of us call home.”

The day’s agenda rounded out with a chance for remote MADS students to get to know student life in downtown Ann Arbor a little better. The MADS program’s student organization hosted a student social at Ashley’s, a craft beer restaurant and pub.

On Saturday morning, MADS students joined forces with UMSI alumni in town for Homecoming Weekend at a community tailgate at Pioneer High School.

And then they all witnessed the Wolverines crush the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan Stadium.

It was a perfect University of Michigan campus weekend.