FAQ

UCLA undergraduates only. The event is open to all undergrads from all majors and skill levels—and registration is free! If you are a graduate student interested in participating as a team mentor, workshop presenter, or volunteer, please email information@datax.ucla.edu. 

No. Neither coding experience nor technical skills is required to participate. Teams will be creating a written document.

Yes! Please form a team of at least 3 members and at most 4 members. Only one person per team needs to register the whole team. Individual students can find others who are looking to form a team on UCLA’s free platform, Skilltype. Join Skilltype here. For instructions on how to find others or to be found, watch this short 30 second video. 

Our Hackathon is free to join for any UCLA undergraduate.

We understand that some students have class on Friday and may be unable to attend the full schedule for that day (October 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Please prioritize attending class. At least one team member must be present on Friday to participate and represent the team; others may join after class. All team members must be onsite for the full day on Saturday (October 18 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.). The Hackathon will take place in 3312 Murphy Hall and at the University Club. Teams may continue to work on their own after 6 p.m. on Friday, but sponsored workspaces will be unavailable.

Yes, all participants are expected to attend all related events, not just the work time. However, if you have a scheduled class on Friday, you should attend the class while the rest of your team attends the Hackathon events. Please let us know if you have a class on Friday or if you are feeling unwell. Also, teams are expected to work together in the DataX space except Friday evening after the networking mixer. The DataX space will not be available Friday evening after 4:30 p.m.

Please bring at least one device per team.

This is an educational experience and we want you to learn as much as you can. We request you abide by the following rules:

1. Please reference and abide by the UCLA Student Code of Conduct, as you would at any University-sponsored event.

2. No seeking professional help from anyone outside of the Hackathon. We have mentors at the event ready to help you.

3. No policy brief submissions will be accepted after the deadline (Saturday, October 18, 3:30 p.m.)

4. Out of respect, for your fellow participants, judges, and organizers, please do not make any disturbances and keep all cellphones turned off during the opening ceremony, workshops, awards, and closing ceremony.

Yes. You have made them and hence you rightfully have the right to keep it and use it in any form or format. We would appreciate a small mention of UCLA DataX in the project description, but that is completely optional. We will share the policy briefs on the event website after the event is over.

Yes! All students will receive certificates upon completion of the award. Awards will also be given to the top policy brief in each of the 4 theme areas. Some of these winners will also receive speaking opportunities to present their ideas to UCLA committees. 

Please register for this event only if you know you can commit to the requirements. However, please email information@datax.ucla.edu as soon as possible if you are unable to attend the event. We will miss you! 

Yes. There will be complimentary food and drink throughout the event. Lunch and refreshments will be provided on Friday, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday.

Feel free to dress in casual and comfortable clothing for the team work time. However, we recommend that you bring a change of clothes for the Networking Mixer on Friday and the Awards Dinner on Saturday. Business casual attire is appropriate for both of those special events.

Yes. We will display a media release statement (“NOTICE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO RECORDING AT UCLA EVENTS”) in the DataX office.

Yes! We welcome volunteers for our hackathon event. If you are interested, please email Jacky at jduong@conet.ucla.edu.