Distinguished Visitors Program

The IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Visitors Program (DVP) was initiated in 1971 by Dr. Stephen Yau. It is a popular offering of top-quality speakers serving IEEE Computer Society professional and student chapters. The DVP owes its success to the many volunteers of the IEEE Computer Society, who generously contribute their time and expertise to the program.

Each year, new Distinguished Visitors (speakers) and topics are selected to help maintain interest in the program. Speakers are available for both in-person and/or online meetings. A sample of recently covered topics is below. Find a Speaker. View the Archive.

Topics Covered:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Digital Twins
• Machine Learning
• Natural Language Processing

Recommendations for new speakers, as well as suggestions for desired topics, are welcome at any time. Applications for new speakers are accepted on a rolling basis. Approvals are typically made within two (2) weeks of receiving nominations.

Suggestions or comments about the program should be sent to dvp@computer.org.

The procedures to request the services of a Distinguished Visitor are as follows. Chapters can review our DVP class of speakers here.

1. Choose & Contact the Visitor. Chapters should contact the speaker directly to set up a tentative date for the visit. Both chapter and speaker should provide estimates for inter-city travel (within the $1,000 limit) and local expenses. Chapters are encouraged to help to arrange multiple talks during a visitor’s trip.

2. Submit a Request. After a tentative date has been set, chapters should submit the DVP Request Form here no later than 6 weeks prior to the scheduled visit. This will allow for a minimum of 21 days between the approval date and the scheduled visit date, so that speakers may take advantage of advance purchase tickets at lower fares.

3. Wait for Approval. Chapters and speakers will be notified of approval/disapproval of the tentative visit. Approval of trips will be based on the availability and fair distribution of funds. Speakers should not purchase transportation prior to being approved. The IEEE Computer Society will not be responsible for and will not reimburse expenses of any travel that has not received prior approval, and/or has not complied with program policies.

4. Confirm Details. Chapters should provide the speaker with presentation logistics, expected attendance, and other arrangements. Speakers should provide chapters with travel arrangements and presentation needs (audiovisual, helpers, materials, etc.).

5. Visit Follow-up Form. Chapters should complete the Follow-up Form, and send it to dvp@computer.org as soon as possible, but no later than one month after the visit.

6. Speaker Reimbursement. Speakers should invoice local expenses directly to the host chapter, and submit inter-city travel expenses WITHIN 60 DAYS OF VISIT DATE. Original receipts are required for all expenses over US $25. Deviation from the original approved request and/or request for reimbursement above the expense maximum, as defined under Policies, will require an appropriate explanation for consideration by the DVP Chair. IEEE uses CONCUR for expense reimbursement. Speakers will be conducted on how to submit post event.

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The Distinguished Visitor Program exists to support IEEE Computer Society professional and student chapters. The following information provides an outline of general policies and procedures.

• All Distinguished Visitor correspondence should be directed to dvp@computer.org.
• The program year runs 1 January – 31 December.
• Call for speakers occur each spring, with approval in the fall of each year. New speaker applications are however accepted on a rolling basis.
• The IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Visitor program reimburses up to US $1,000 for speaker’s travel from home to event and return.
• Chapters are responsible for local expenses as described below

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• Requests Per Year — Chapters may arrange up to three DVP visits per calendar year. Approval for visitors must be obtained in advance. Additional visits can be requested subject to availability of funds
• Requesting a Visitor. Chapters should first confirm speaker’s availability. Chapters should work directly with the speaker. Second, chapters should submit the request via the online speaker request form, E-mail Requests are acceptable as long as all required information is included in the submission. Submit visit requests to dvp@computer.org.

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All Distinguished Visitor requests must be approved in advance. Arrangements made by visitors, chapters, and/or others outside of DVP policies and procedures are not the responsibility of the IEEE Computer Society, and will not be reimbursed.

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US $1,000 for inter-city travel for approved visits to Computer Society professional and student chapters. Local accommodations are paid by the host chapter. Additional funding may be available if multiple talks are given on a single trip.

Covered Expenses:

• Inter-city Traveling Costs are defined as reasonable expenses incurred traveling from the speaker’s home or office to the host chapter’s city and departure from the host chapter’s city until arrival at the speaker’s home or office.
• Normal economy coach class airfare, bus fare, train fare, parking at home airport, mileage, or nominal gas to and from the speaker’s home airport. The use of advance-purchased tickets is encouraged whenever practical.

Visitors should purchase economy class airfare, bus, and/or train tickets. It’s advised to purchase tickets as early as possible to secure the lowest possible fare.

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Chapters are responsible for Local Expenses which are defined as reasonable expenses incurred after arriving in the host chapter’s city, including accommodations, transportation, and meals. These expenses are to be submitted by the speaker to the host chapter for reimbursement and should be agreed upon by the speaker and the host chapter in advance.

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All requests for reimbursement must be submitted within 60 days from completed travel.

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The procedures to request the services of a Distinguished Visitor are as follows. The DVP serves all Computer Society professional and student chapters.

1. Chapters should consider speakers from the current online catalog only.
2. Chapters should contact the speaker directly to set up a tentative date for a visit. Both the chapter and speaker should provide estimates for inter-city travel and local expenses.
3. IEEE Computer Society will fund transportation for visitors to and from the host chapter up to US $1,000. Chapters are responsible for local accommodations and transportation.
4. Once a date for a visit has been established, the chapter must submit the DVP Request Form included in this catalog at least six (6) weeks prior to the scheduled visit.
5. Approval of trips will be based on the availability and fair distribution of funds. Chapters requesting their first speaker will be given priority over those requesting a second or third program speaker. The IEEE Computer Society will not be responsible for and will not reimburse the expenses of any travel that has not received prior approval and/or has not complied with program policies.
6. Chapters are to provide the speaker with details of the presentation site, expected attendance, and other arrangements. The speaker provides the chapter with travel arrangements and presentation needs (audiovisual, helpers, materials, etc.).
7. Chapter officer should keep a record for the Follow-up Form of the topic, total attendance, and notes on technical content, oral, and overall presentation.
8. After completing a visit, the chapter should fill out the Follow-up Form and send it to dvp@computer.org within the days of visit completion.
9. The speaker should invoice local expenses directly to the host chapter and submit inter-city travel expenses WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE VISIT DATE. Original receipts are required for all expenses over $25. Deviation from the initially approved request amount for inter-city travel and/or request for reimbursement above the expense maximum as defined under Policies, will require an appropriate explanation for consideration by the DVP Chair. If the deviation is due to an emergency or unusual, unforeseen circumstances, approval for the higher amount will be up to the discretion of the DVP Chair upon review of the circumstances.

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Nominations for new speakers are formally solicited by the program chair in the spring of each year, but are accepted any time throughout the year. Appointments are made in the fall of each year. The selection of visitors are in accordance with the following guidelines:

1. Speakers must be members of the IEEE Computer Society
2. Speakers are recognized authorities in their respective fields as indicated by the following criteria with respect to their chosen topics: 1) a record of public speaking at conferences or technical meetings, 2) articles in technical or trade journals, and 3) books published.
3. Speakers offer topics of interest to the Computer Society membership as determined by the following criteria: 1) topics represented in publications, trade journals, and books; and 2) reader/member interest surveys.
4. Speakers’ schedules permit them to respond positively to requesting chapters.
5. Speakers have the support of their employer to participate in the DVP.
6. Speakers are invited to contribute their time and talent for up to three years. An ex-speaker may be re-nominated after being out of the program for a period of at least two years. Speakers may stay on as online presenters when their term is up.
7. A speaker may exit the program during the three years for personal reasons or may be terminated at the discretion of the DVP Chair with the concurrence of the DVP Committee.
8. Representation from underrepresented groups is highly encouraged.
9. The DVP Program review committee evaluates all speaker nominations.

Recommendations for new speakers, as well as suggestions for desired topics, are welcome at any time. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.

Please submit nominations, including the nominee’s biographical information and two or three abstracts of proposed topics (use the entries in the current catalog as a reference for text length).

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All correspondence for the Distinguished Visitors Program should be sent to dvp@computer.org.

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