As you participate in the Curiosity Cup, a global SAS student competition, selecting the right tool for your project is essential. SAS provides three powerful, cloud-based platforms: SAS OnDemand for Academics, SAS Viya for Learners, and SAS Viya Workbench for Learners, all available to college and university students at no cost. Each platform is designed for simplicity and accessibility, allowing you to work directly in your web browser without the need for software installations.    If your institution offers campus-licensed SAS software, you can leverage that as well. This guide will walk you through the strengths of each platform, helping you make an informed decision based on your project goals and technical expertise.   Let’s start with SAS OnDemand for Academics!    SAS OnDemand for Academics is a free, cloud-based environment that provides access to SAS Studio, a tool for data analysis and SAS coding. As a cloud-based version of SAS 9.4, OnDemand for Academics offers a straightforward and efficient experience for students.    Key Features:  Access SAS Studio for performing data analysis and writing SAS code.  Build SAS skills with tools available to students.  Simplify the learning process with predefined tasks that automatically generate SAS code.  Create new SAS program files or upload existing ones for analysis.    Best Use Case?   SAS OnDemand for Academics is perfect for students and educators focused on learning and applying SAS programming. It’s a straightforward platform ideal for projects that don’t require complex tools like machine learning or advanced visuals. If your project revolves around coding, data manipulation, or simple analytics, this platform has everything you need. OnDemand for Academics is also a great choice if you’re looking for a basic, easy-to-use environment to develop your SAS skills.  Now let’s look at SAS Viya for Learners.    SAS Viya for Learners is an advanced, comprehensive analytics platform designed for students and educators who want to work with a variety of data science tools. With SAS Viya for Learners, you can access powerful applications like SAS Visual Analytics, SAS Model Studio, and Jupyter Lab, giving you the flexibility to explore advanced topics such as machine learning, data visualization, and open-source coding.    Key Features:  Integrate tools for visual analytics, data modeling, and support for open-source languages (e.g., Python, R).  Create reports and visualizations without extensive coding, using low/no-code capabilities with SAS Visual Analytics.  Access preloaded datasets and CAS tables for faster, real-time data analysis (CAS tables store data in memory for quick access and insights).  Code seamlessly in Python, R, and other languages within the SAS environment through open-source integration.    Best Use Case? SAS Viya for Learners is perfect for projects that require complex analytics, such as data visualization, machine learning, or coding in multiple languages. It provides the flexibility to switch between SAS and open-source languages like Python, making it an ideal choice for tackling advanced Curiosity Cup projects. If your project involves predictive modeling, interactive reports, or blending SAS with open-source tools, Viya for Learners offers built-in tools like SAS Visual Analytics and seamless coding integration.  And… finally, introducing SAS’s newest technology, SAS Viya Workbench for Learners!    SAS Viya Workbench for Learners is an intuitive development environment designed to enhance your coding experience with SAS and open-source languages. You can use tools like Visual Studio Code for SAS coding and Jupyter Lab or Jupyter Notebook for Python coding. This seamless integration allows you to work in your preferred environment and leverage powerful Python libraries for tasks such as machine learning and data analysis.    Key Features:  Combine SAS and open-source coding environments.  Integrate with popular IDEs for a customized coding experience.  Support SAS coding via Visual Studio Code and Python coding using Jupyter Lab or Jupyter Notebook.  Install any Python package required for your project, offering flexibility for customized coding needs.  Streamline code execution in both Python and SAS.  Tailored for technical users comfortable working across multiple coding languages.    Best Use Case? SAS Viya Workbench for Learners is ideal if your Curiosity Cup project requires extensive coding in multiple languages. It offers flexibility for students who prefer a streamlined coding environment, supporting seamless transitions between SAS (via Visual Studio Code) and Python (via Jupyter Lab or Notebook). This platform is particularly suited for technical users who need efficient integration of SAS code with open-source languages to meet complex project needs.  Conclusion  Choosing the right platform for your Curiosity Cup project depends on the complexity of your project and your technical needs. SAS OnDemand for Academics is excellent for those seeking a simple and accessible SAS programming environment. SAS Viya for Learners offers a more advanced analytics platform with data visualization and machine learning capabilities, while SAS Viya Workbench for Learners is perfect for students who require flexibility in coding languages like Python.    Explore each platform, leverage the resources provided by SAS, and choose the best fit to maximize your success in the Curiosity Cup!  ... View more

If you are registered for this workshop series, you can now use this post to ask questions and communicate with your classmates and instructors.   Not registered for the SAS Certification Mini Courses yet? There’s still time! Register here and don’t forget to use your academic email address. Please note that these courses are only open to academics in the Americas. ... View more

Attention, educators! Did you know that SAS Academic Programs provides projects and case studies that you can include in your courses? Each activity is designed to challenge students to solve an applied problem using analytical and software skills and can be an aid for assessing a student's understanding and application of SAS skills. Students can tackle these real-world challenges using free academic software platforms, SAS OnDemand for Academics and SAS Viya for Learners.   Some project and case study examples include: Purchase Prediction for Big Organics LTD (SAS Visual Analytics) Traffic Accidents in the Netherlands (SAS Visual Analytics) Using Reports to Drive Production Decision for Insight Toy LTD (SAS Visual Analytics) Machine Learning in Healthcare (SAS Visual Analytics / SAS Visual Statistics) Analyzing MAESD Student Dropout (SAS Programming)   To access any of our project and case study materials, register for the SAS Educator Portal, and check out the video below to learn where to download these materials! First, click the Classroom Activities button under the Educator banner on the right. Next, click the Project & Case Studies tab to view the available activities. Click on any item of interest to download the instructional materials.   Looking for something different? Have a great case study you'd like to share? Reach out to educators and SAS users in the Course Case Studies and Challenges community! ... View more

Calling all Americas educators and students! Join this free, five-week course to learn interactive predictive model building using SAS Visual Statistics and prepare for the SAS Visual Modeling Specialist certification exam. Attend at least 4 live sessions and complete the e-learning to receive a free certification voucher.   We’ll cover: - Intro to SAS Visual Statistics 8.4 on SAS® Viya - Building and exploring descriptive and predictive models - Performing model validation and examining goodness-of-fit - Modifying, comparing, and scoring models   May 3-31 4:30 – 6 p.m. EDT, Wednesdays Register here! Please note: An academic email address is required to process your registration and access your course materials. ... View more

Join us at our headquarters in Cary, NC, July 18-19 for the 2023 SAS Summer Educator Conference. This free conference will offer two days of in-person events, plus pre- and post-conference workshops with options to attend in-person or virtually. We'll also recognize the winners of the SAS Educator awards and HBCU Fellows.   Register to attend the Summer 2023 SAS Educator Conference! ... View more

Getting Started in Communities I have a question. What do I do now? The SAS Support Communities are here to help! First, search Communities to make sure your question hasn’t been answered already. Didn’t find the answer you needed? It’s time to make your first post in SAS Communities! Don’t worry, @BeverlyBrown has you covered. Check out her articles on posting and editing a question and getting fast, helpful answers. While you wait for SAS employees, experts, and your peers to help you, take a look at other tips and tricks for new Communities users like you! Where should my students and I post our questions? Regardless of whether you are a new SAS user or a SAS Certified Professional, try searching our archive of previously answered questions! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can easily post your question and receive a detailed answer from a SAS expert! If your questions are specific to SAS OnDemand for Academics or SAS Viya for Learners, you can find everything you need in the SAS Software for Learning Community! If you’re taking a SAS course, take a look at our course-specific forums: Base Programming Advanced Programming How can I contact someone for help? There are a few simple ways to get help: A keyword search on the SAS Communities homepage or even a Google search will quickly tell you whether your topic has been addressed in the SAS Support Communities. If your question is completely unique (good for you!), then you can easily post it to our forum. A dropdown menu will help you decide which forum it should go to. Chat with a Customer Engagement Agent by clicking the gray and white chat icon in the lower-right corner of this page. It looks like this! You can also send an email directly to the Contact Center for questions about SAS Communities usage. For all other inquiries, reach out to academic@sas.com to get in touch with your academic program manager.     Resources for Educators Why SAS? SAS has been the world’s leader in analytics for over four decades, but we are more than that. We also believe that curiosity is at the heart of human progress and that education empowers new generations to reach their full potential. As part of SAS’s commitment to higher education, the SAS Global Academic Programs team supports faculty and students with aligning skill development to industry demand. Our resources include free software for academics, teaching materials for educators and training opportunities for students. To learn more, check out our resources or take a look at the questions and answers below! Do educators and students get free access to software? Yes! SAS believes in supporting the academic community and its data literacy efforts at no cost. Using an academic email address, you and your students can access SAS academic software for free! For SAS OnDemand for Academics: To create an account, start here! Already have an account? Log in here! Watch this video for a step-by-step guide to getting started. For SAS Viya for Learners: If you do not have an account, start here! Already have an account? Log in here! Watch this video for a step-by-step guide to getting started. For SAS Viya Workbench for Learners: If you do not have an account, start here! Already have an account? Log in here! Watch this video for a step-by-step guide to getting started. Do you provide free instructional resources to educators? We want to help you integrate SAS analytics into your courses and provide a variety of resources to this end. The SAS Educator Portal is the home of all the resources we provide to educators like you.   Within the Educator Portal, you will find: Teaching kits: These bundled instructional resources are designed for use in our SAS corporate training courses and include course notes, data sets, and slide decks. These kits serve as a great resource to begin incorporating SAS skill into your curriculum, and you should feel free to modify the materials to suit your needs. Educator guides: These guides align SAS-provided teaching assets with the requirements for a Tier 1 Academic Specialization—in SAS Programming or Visual Analytics in SAS Viya—and package them in such a way that they could be lifted “off the shelf” and into your curriculum. Classroom activities: These activities are written for higher education students and designed for immediate use in the classroom. They come in a variety of formats such as problem sets, guided activities, course projects, and gamified learning activities that give students a glimpse into industries where SAS is used. I want to develop SAS skills. Do you provide free training to educators? Yes! SAS provides all the resources you need to become a savvy SAS User for free! For self-paced learning, use your academic email address to request access to the SAS Educator Portal. Here you will find robust and engaging e-learning courses in foundational topics like programming and visual analytics as well as more advanced subjects like machine learning and predictive modeling. Browse our library of detailed video tutorials here. If you prefer hands-on training, a SAS Academic workshop may be right for you! Check out our current Educator Workshop schedule*. *Public workshops are not available in all regions. Please reach out to academic@sas.com or your academic program manager for information on local offerings. Want to arrange a private workshop* for your institution? Contact academic@sas.com or your academic program manager for support. *Private workshops are not available in all regions. Please reach out to academic@sas.com or your academic program manager for information on local offerings. What resources are available to my students? We are excited to help you develop the next generation of analytical talent! To this end, we provide your students with a free suite of educational resources to complement your efforts in the classroom. Encourage your students to sign up for a SAS profile with an academic email address to access powerful e-learning, live training, and many video tutorials! For an engaging e-learning experience coupled with certification prep and exclusive academic discounts, students should check out SAS Skill Builder for Students. Students have access to our extensive library of detailed video tutorials here. For a more hands-on experience, students can register for select SAS academic workshops*. Check out our current offerings here! *Public workshops are not available in all regions. Please reach out to academic@sas.com or your academic program manager for information on local offerings. Students even have their own FAQ in SAS Communities! What are the benefits to becoming SAS Certified? SAS skill is in high demand, and SAS certifications can give students a competitive edge in their careers. According to a recent survey by Certification Magazine, individuals in the US holding the SAS Certified Specialist: Base Programming certification---the most popular SAS certification among academics---achieved a median salary of more than $100,000 with a full-time employment rate of nearly 97%.   If you are interested in bringing SAS certifications to your institution, you may have questions. Check out our Getting Started Guide. Faculty can become SAS certified proctors and host SAS certification testing events on their campuses.   We also provide certification preparatory materials and exam discounts to support your efforts: A practice run is always a good thing. You can test your knowledge ahead of time with free practice certification exams! Learn what to expect and get expert help with free certification webinars! Students and educators can take global certification exams for US$75* by requesting a discount voucher through SAS Skill Builder for Students and the SAS Educator Portal, respectively. Discount vouchers must be requested before exam registration. Learn how to request a discount voucher here! *This discount is not available in China, Taiwan, or India. Please email the country office in China, Taiwan, or India to inquire about other discounts or promotions that may apply. Students and educators in Japan, please contact your local SAS office to inquire about discounted certification exams. Want to know how the pros prepare for their exams? Here are 4 tips to prep for your SAS Certification exam. Who do I contact for academic resource and software support? Contact academic@sas.com to connect with your SAS academic program manager. ... View more