Summer 2007 Issue

Kudos to computer science department

Computer science is one of the most expansive, innovative and adaptive areas of knowledge today. Computer literacy has become essential for all aspects of work and study. Fortunately, UIS has an excellent computer science department, as demonstrated through its unique programs and outstanding faculty.

This year, UIS was notified that its computer science department had been added to State Farm Insurance’s list of academic departments for targeted recruiting. Targeted schools are selected based on curriculum, makeup of the student body and unique strengths the department provides for computer science majors.

State Farm Insurance, based in Bloomington, Ill., is “a leader in providing financial services, including insurance, banking and investment products to clients throughout the United States.” Its systems department supports one of the largest private networks in the country.

Ted Mims, UIS professor of computer science and department chair, said that after a thorough evaluation by the company’s systems department, “the people at State Farm indicated our program is among the highest quality available. They were especially impressed with the online curriculum.”

This new partnership provides some significant benefits to UIS students who are majoring in computer science.

“Our students will be able to take advantage of a number of new opportunities, such as additional, meaningful work and research internships, classroom presentations by corporate leaders who manage technology and campus visits by employment recruiters,” said Mims.

Mims said UIS is one of only three official targeted providers in Illinois of students for State Farm’s prestigious Summer Internship Program, an 11-week internship that offers real-world work experience along with professional and personal development classes.

2007 computer science honors graduates Derek Murray and Daniel Collins were the first two students from UIS to be admitted into the State Farm Summer Internship Program. Murray describes the program as “a great experience,” an “11-week interview,” during which interns rotate through various aspects of corporate life, including professional speaking. Both Murray and Collins performed so well in their internships that State Farm hired them.

Instructor Janis Rose said, “Derek’s outstanding work in this highly competitive program helped pave the way for us to build this relationship with State Farm. Thanks in large part to him, many more UIS students will be able to have this valuable experience.”

This year, Murray also received the “4R” award in the results category from the Cisco Networking Academy, a global training program that provides students with information technology and technical networking skills.

Each year, Cisco recognizes one person and one program for excellence in four categories: academic rigor, relevance of skills, relationship building and results in education and career pathways. The 4R award in results recognizes students and graduates who have used knowledge and skills gained through their participation in the Cisco Networking Academy program to increase their opportunities for career, educational or personal development and success. Each individual is nominated by other participants; nominees are reviewed by a selection committee.

Murray, originally from Irving, Ill., was a student in the Capital Scholars Honors Program and graduated from UIS with highest honors. In addition to his award, he has been selected to represent Illinois at the Cisco Networking Academy 10th Anniversary celebration, which will take place in Washington, D.C., in October. Only one Cisco student/alumnus is invited from each state.

UIS computer science instructor Janis Rose also received a Cisco 4R award in the relationships category. This award recognizes instructors and institutions that have built strategic relationships with businesses and other organizations, which extend the reach of the Cisco Networking Academy program and create new opportunities for success.

“I appreciate this award very much,” said Rose. “However, I’m in an enviable position and I’m lucky to be surrounded by the best. I feel like a symphony conductor, pulling together diverse student energies with a great curriculum in well-equipped lab classrooms… It pulls together like a surround-sound that becomes the beat of life. Networking surrounds us like that. It’s in our homes, our cars, on street corner USA. I’m lucky to be in such an exciting field.”

But new equipment would allow faculty and students to work together to design, implement and test theoretical security and information assurance applications in a real-world environment. The Critical Infrastructure Assurance Group, which works to provide leadership to improve the security of global critical infrastructure, has granted $145,890 in equipment monies to do just that.

Mims said the equipment will be used to establish an intrusion detection laboratory at UIS and to enhance an existing Cisco Systems Security and Information Assurance laboratory that was previously established through a National Science Foundation/Advanced Technological Education grant.

The department is in the process of applying to become a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Security and Assurance Education, sponsored by the National Security Agency. Mims said the department’s courses are already certified by the Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation Program and have been certified by the Committee of National Security Systems and the NSA as meeting national training standards for information systems security professionals and system administrators.

The UIS computer science department’s awards and recognition are well-deserved. As further evidence of the department’s excellence – as if any is needed – the program’s graduates are working all over the country for the best companies. We will bring you news about them and the computer science department’s continuing success in future editions of UIS Alumni magazine. Stay tuned!