MWSUG 2018 Section Descriptions

MWSUG 2018 will feature numerous paper presentations spread across a variety of academic sections. Presentation abstracts will be posted after selections are made this summer. Below are descriptions of the sections we expect to include in this year's academic program.

Business Leadership

This section features papers showcasing how SAS is being used to solve real-world business problems as well as using "Data For Good". Papers in this section will focus more around the problem being solved than the code behind the solution.

e-Posters

Various SAS-related topics presented in an electronic poster format rather than as a formal lecture. Posters are available throughout the conference and are ideal for displaying high-resolution graphics and innovative presentations. Authors are available during scheduled times to answer questions.

Financial Services

We are looking for SAS customers from around the world to discuss the important issues facing the financial services and insurance industries. Presentations will highlight how SAS has been instrumental in delivering timely and accurate information to key decision makers in these industries. Topics include a broad range of subjects relevant to financial services and insurance: risk analysis, predicative modeling, forecasting, analyzing complex assets and their values, customer relationship management, and more.

Hands-On Workshops

Participating in a Hands-On Workshop at MWSUG is a unique opportunity for conference attendees to learn and practice new skills at the conference under the tutelage of our expert instructors. These interactive workshops provide a more robust learning experience that include practical exercises using real software. Participants are able to interact with instructors in a way that isn't normally possible in a traditional conference presentation setting. Instructors are selected by invitation only and are frequently nationally-known SAS experts with decades of experience, advanced SAS technical skills, and a polished presentation style.

Health Sciences

This section focuses on the use of SAS software within the sciences. Topics may include, but are not limited to: clinical programming, reporting and biostatistics; programming and reporting using enrollment, medical and pharmacy claims data; approaches to government accreditation (URAC, HEDIS) and regulations; health care reform reporting mandates (MLR, Exchange); and detecting fraud in provider/insurer systems.

SAS 101 Plus

A forum for both new and experienced SAS users to learn concepts and processes with which they are currently unfamiliar. Papers in this section should lay out step-by-step instructions and clearly illuminate how the feature or process is used or applied. Papers covering all SAS products – Base SAS, SAS Enterprise Guide, SAS Web Report Studio, etc. – are welcome. Topics may include SAS language features and programming concepts, interacting with external files, reporting and data vizualization, data management, data mining, ODS, and much more. The objective of these presentations will be to provide a deeper, practical understanding of key SAS features and behaviors that can make the attendee a more efficient and valuable SAS user/programmer.

Statistics / Advanced Analytics

Whether for small data sets or so-called big data, analytics is increasingly important to operations in business, finance, health care, academia, government and many other types of organizations. SAS is a longtime pillar in the statistical community, offering a broad array of techniques to meet the growing demand for data analysis. The Statistics and Data Analysis section provides a unique opportunity to see presentations of statistical applications using SAS software to solve today's problems. Statisticians, economists, epidemiologists, forecasters and market researchers present their novel applications of statistical methodology, teach important concepts, and illustrate the benefit of new techniques with the use of SAS/STAT®, SAS/QC®, SAS/IML®, SAS/ETS® and JMP software.