Everything Nac

Representatives from BPX Energy recently presented a donation to Stephen F. Austin State University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics for the development of the Ladyjacks Who Code camp, launching in the summer of 2019.

Hosted by the college, the STEM Research and Learning Center and the Department of Computer Science, the camp is designed to create engaging experiences for students who have completed sixth or seventh grade, blending both online and “unplugged” experiences.

“Students will learn to create computer programs designed to enhance collaborative learning, develop problem-solving skills and teach persistence through difficult tasks,” said Dr. Kimberly Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

More information about Ladyjacks Who Code to follow at stem.sfasu.edu.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University will launch a bachelor’s degree in data analytics in the spring of 2019, preparing students to fill jobs that meet the expanding data management needs of business and industry.

According to SFA faculty members, the program is one of only a few that exist throughout the state.

“The world runs on data,” said Dr. Puntitra Glendowne, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science. “There is no shortage of data, but there is a shortage of people equipped with the necessary skills to properly handle, transform and, ultimately, extract meaningful information from it.”

Students in the program study data acquisition and visualization, statistical modeling, database management and distributed computing, skills used in the analysis of business and economic data, said Dr. Kimberly Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

“Data analytics is a high-profile program designed to drive innovation through data-informed decision-making,” Childs said.

The bachelor’s degree includes computer science, economics and mathematics courses, combining lecture with practical experience in the computing lab.

“Students who may have walked away from a pure computer science, math or business degree are finding their way to data analytics as a way to pursue a variety of interests while broadening and strengthening their worth in the job market,” said Dr. Deborah Dunn, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science.

For more information about the program, visit sfasu.edu/academics/colleges/sciences-math/computer-science/academics/data-analytics, or call (936) 468-2508.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.