GET THE MOST OUT OF FREX

FReX is upon us, but to get the most of this epic freshman experience here at Neumont, you’ve got to properly prepare. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back with this helpful FReX checklist for your weekend adventure in Salt Lake City. Follow along for what-to-wear tips, info on the event agenda, and how to get the most out of your FReX experience.   

PRIOR

• Talk to your parents and get a travel game plan together. Whether you’re getting to FReX by air or car, make your travel plans early to ensure the best pricing and availability.

• Book your complimentary hotel early. If you’ll be traveling more than 50 miles to attend FReX, be sure to book your complimentary hotel stay early.

• Review the FReX agenda: Start getting excited about your Neumont visit by downloading the FReX Program Guide. You’ll find the full event agenda and maps to help familiarize yourself with Salt Lake.

• Connect with other future FReXers on Discord: If you haven’t done so already, check out our Discord server. FReXers can connect on the FReX channel and find out who else will be attending your FReX event date.

PACKING

• Wear comfortable shoes: We promise a fun-filled weekend and recommend wearing comfortable shoes. There will be some light walking as we travel to campus, as well as lots of time on your feet as you explore campus and scheduled activities.

• Bring a jacket: Spring time in Salt Lake City is notorious for changing on a dime. Check the weather report before your visit and be prepared for the temperamental temperature shifts.

• Prepare a list of questions: Take advantage of this opportunity to get your burning questions about Neumont answered. Work with your parents and come prepared with a list of questions you can ask staff, faculty, and current students. Bonus–this is a great excuse to network.

DURING

• Avoid the line: If you want to avoid waiting in line for event check-in, plan on showing about halfway through the check-in process. You’ll have plenty of time to get checked-in, grab some breakfast refreshments, and find a seat.

• Meet your future friends: Chances are you’re going to make some new friends at FReX, possibly including your future roommate(s). Be sure to wear your FReX name badge (you’ll receive one at event check-in) so everyone can learn your name.

• Experience TRAX: FReX attendees will be provided a UTA pass to use on Saturday, April 19th to experience TRAX, Salt Lake City’s light rail system. We recommend utilizing the TRAX to explore downtown and you can see the schedule and stop locations here.

• Participate in all the activities: To know what’s going on at all times, download the Attendify app from the app store. From there, you’ll be able to review the FReX Agenda Program Guide. Lastly, don’t forget to post your FReX pics to the social media feed on Attendify and hashtag #FReX in your posts on social media.

INSIGHTS FROM SINGAPORE

Aaron Reed, Ed.D., President, Neumont College of Computer Science

Congratulations to Neumont President Aaron Reed, Ed.D., who recently returned home from Singapore where he presented at the ninth annual International Computer Science Education: Innovation and Technology (CSEIT) Conference. 

The paper, “Gaming Disorder: A Possible Piece of the Computer Science Retention Puzzle – Investigating the Rate of Excessive Gaming Among Computer Science Students,” was penned by Reed and Neumont Senior Academic and Student Life Coordinator John “JP” Peppinger, M.R.C.

John “JP” Peppinger, Senior Academic and Student Life Coordinator, Neumont College of Computer Science

Peppinger has also been working on a new program for students called Game Changers. The program is structured similar to an online class, and is scheduled to launch just before the holidays. In addition to learning about how gaming companies use reinforcement methods against consumers to promote more time spent on gaming related materials, students will keep a journal that includes how much time they’re spending on gaming and on gaming-related material.

NEUMONT PARTNERS WITH UTAH JAZZ

The 2018-2019 NBA preseason kicks off this week, and Neumont couldn’t be more excited. Today, Neumont announced a partnership with Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment (LHMSE).

Through this partnership, students currently attending Neumont will develop software projects and resources for companies under the LHMSE umbrella including, but not limited to, the Utah Jazz, Tour of Utah, and The Zone Sports Network. The first student project is creating an 8-bit video game for the Utah Jazz. Details of the Jazz video game are in the early stages, but Britta Nelson, director of corporate relations, for Neumont said she is already confident this specific Enterprise Partner project will be one that students are especially excited to work on.

You can read more about the partnership with the Utah Jazz and the new partnership here.

NEUMONT FEATURED ON KUTV’S “FRESH LIVING”

Check out the clip from "Fresh Living" with President Aaron Reed, Ed.D., Director of Corporate Relations Britta Nelson, and recent graduate Sophie Wargo. They share their insights about the value of a computer science degree in today's economy.

COMMENCEMENT 2018

Neumont College of Computer Science honored graduates at the 2018 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, August 31 at The Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. John Knotwell, CEO and president of the Utah Technology Council, provided the keynote address. Neumont President Aaron Reed, Ed.D. also spoke briefly. You can watch the full ceremony at the YouTube link below. 

Knotwell, a 12-year veteran in Utah's growing tech community spoke of the value of listening, sharing that, "…true listening shows that you value those people around you. It shows that you are invested in them as people, and that you, as a colleague, coworker, boss, or friend, want them to succeed. And a world where we all wish one another success is the only way to find success ourselves. It's how we build each other up, how we build up our organizations, how we have faith in the future."

Making a plug for Utah's tech future as well, Knotwell shared, "We have over 6,500 tech firms in Utah. We are the fastest growing in the country, adding job after job after job to every listing site that has ever existed," noting that, "There will never be a moment where opportunity is not calling you. The only real impact that you can make, in your career or in your life, is your choice," and invited Neumont graduates to stay local.

"Make the choice to stay," he implored. "Make this community your home. Explore opportunities and the mountains. Invest your time here finding the balance that we all want in work and in life."

After noting three key life lessons gleaned from his time in tech and higher education, Dr. Reed closed his remarks reminding graduates, "Today was the day you joined an elite tech workforce --  the one-and-a-half percent that are chiefly responsible for the future of America's economy and national security," referencing remarks earlier where he noted that while 30 percent of Americans have bachelors degrees, only 3 percent of all awarded degrees go to computer science, and only 1.5 percent of people in the United States work in computer science.

But "even more exclusively than that," Reed said, "remember that today is the day you joined a growing army of tech giants that are part of a family of Neumont alumni."

CLASS OF 2021 LAPTOP: LENOVO P1

We're thrilled to announce that incoming first-year students enrolled in the bachelor's degree programs will receive the Lenovo P1 as the cohort laptop in the fall of 2018. 

Each year, Neumont College of Computer Science carefully selects a new machine for the incoming students to use throughout their time here. This high-end work machine will allow students from each degree program to use the tools they need to create remarkable apps, sites, tools, games, reports, and more. 

The complete specs for the Lenovo P1 are listed below. 

Lenovo P1: 4-year warranty with accidental damage protection

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64

Processor:  Intel Core i7-8850H (Hexa Core 2.60GHz, 4.30GHz Turbo, 9MB 45W, w/Intel UHD Graphics 630)

Memory:  32GB (16+16), DDR4-2666MHz, SODIMM

Graphics:  NVIDIA Quadro P2000 w/4GB GDDR5 128bits

Wireless:  Intel 9560 Card (802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.2), 2x2 MIMO

Hard Drive:  M.2 PCIe 512GB SSD

Battery: 4-cell (80Wh) Lithium Ion battery

Display: 15.6 FHD (1920x1080) IPS Anti-Glare 300nits

Requiring a specific make and model of laptop has a few key advantages. First, it helps Neumont support your hardware quickly and efficiently. We handle all standard warranty service on-campus at no extra cost, which saves valuable time for our students. Second, having a large fleet of a specific model allows us to quickly gather data and apply fixes if needed to a large population. Lastly, it ensures consistency among students in the classroom learning process.

SOFTWARE & GAME DEVELOPMENT DEGREE

Software & Game Development Program Chair Ray Maple sat down with Admissions Manager Jason Thompson for a 30-minute livestream on YouTube to chat about the game development industry, learning game development at Neumont College of Computer Science, and what it takes to succeed in that competitive field. 

Ray has over 20 years of experience developing games. He has worked at small game studios, "Indies before we called them 'indies,'" Ray jokes. And he has worked at large companies like Disney working to develop games like Disney Infinity 1, 2, and 3.

After developing games for so long, Ray made the switch to teaching. He brings experience from making game engines to programming game play. "I feel like I've seen it all," says Ray. "I've done everything..I can show these students how to build a game from the ground up."

Watching students grow and learn from the beginning is the most rewarding part of his current job. He says watching students be creative and do more as they learn more is what keeps him going. 

The game development program at Neumont covers C, C++, C#, and game engines in addition to artificial intelligence, shading, characters, physics, and more. 

If you would like to earn a bachelor's degree in software and game development at Neumont, complete your Application for Admission now. 

INCLUSIVE AND UNITED

It seems fitting to celebrate inclusive and united as two of the values that serve as the foundation for the mission statement of Neumont College of Computer Science. “Improving lives through education,” lends itself to being inclusive and united. As LeeAnn Prince, director of student affairs, explained, “They really go hand-in-hand. Inclusiveness is not about accepting where we are the same, it’s about celebrating what makes us unique and ultimately understanding that by working together, we can accomplish exponentially more than by working alone.” 

Prince says part of her role at Neumont is to help foster a culture of respect that welcomes differences and celebrates diversity. “We should embrace the individuality and unique attributes of others, and that happens when we seek first to understand and then to be understood. Discussion is really the key.”

An important tenant of her job is to ensure that all voices are heard at every level of our institution, and works with Neumont’s various publics to develop the most effective channels and utilize best-practices for open and honest communication. “It can be something as simple as an open door, or even just a suggestion box,” she says, noting the new addition outside her office where the Neumont community (students, staff and faculty) can leave comments, suggestions and questions they’d like addressed.

In essence, inclusivity is not something that is ever wholly achieved; it is an iterative process. And it is through this process, recognizing the strengths and value of one another that we ultimately become united. At Neumont, students and graduates can have a positive impact on the world by leveraging the technical, career, and life skills gleaned at Neumont. Staff, faculty and administration are steadfast and unyielding in their passion to enhance the life of every student to help magnify their potential.

Ultimately, it’s not that Neumont or it’s people are perfect in embodying our new values and mission statement; but as Neumont president Aaron Reed, Ed.D. explained, “they serve to focus on what we believe is most important: making a positive impact on our students, essentially, improving lives through education.”

NEUMONT’S INNOVATIVE APPROACH

Neumont College of Computer Science was built on a foundation of innovation. When other computer science programs focus on theories and lectures that don't provide adequate opportunities to develop the technical, project, and team skills needed to successfully transition from college to the workforce, Neumont’s founders took an alternative approach. They met with educators and industry leaders from across the country to design a curriculum that merges academic rigor, relevant professional knowledge, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.

“At Neumont, we teach students to think critically and creatively to solve problems and to innovate,” said Jerry Pay, student innovations manager who oversees the college's Innovation Center. The Center connects students and graduates to resources beyond campus to help them turn their projects into businesses. These resources provide students with the tools they need to not only build prototypes of their ideas and then test those prototypes, but it also helps them build a business model around their product or idea to prepare them to launch a business. The Innovation Center also gives the students and alumni access to funding groups to help them complete the launch where necessary.

“Our commitment to innovation is something that is part of our foundation,” said Ben Fletcher, vice president information technology, “and innovative processes in the classroom should be second nature to our instructors." Prior to managing the institution's technology infrastructure, Fletcher helped develop the bachelor's degree in information systems and served as the program chair. 

He said, "We teach computer science in a wholly different way—constantly pushing the boundaries of how to educate. Our project-based approached to education, with real-time employer feedback, means that innovation is inherent in what we do. Our students are solving real-world problems. And realistically, what our institution aims to inspire in students is ultimately an extension of what every member of Neumont’s staff, faculty, and administration should also be striving for: embracing creativity, imagination, and inventiveness.”

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE

Tom Beatty, BSWD Chair

According to Tom Beatty, web design and development chair for Neumont College of Computer Science, striving for excellence is a nice ideal, but not necessary a goal that’s attainable (and thus, the constant striving). He says, “It’s hard to know when you’ve actually reached it.” Beatty shares his belief that everyone is better served by focusing on the best work you can do.

“It's good to push yourself,” he says. “Try challenging things. Learn more. Be curious, Do more, and don't give up. Decide you can do something, and then do it. If you fail, try again with the new knowledge you've obtained. Don't worry so much about achieving excellence at the start. If you continually work hard and do your best to be better than you were or to know more than you did, excellence is the inevitable byproduct.”

And Beatty knows about pushing himself: ever the life-long learner, he admits to spending a lot of time on both Udemy.com and Pluralsight completing online training.  

“I need to keep current on the ever-changing technologies associated with the industry. There is always another framework or library that will help my students be better prepared for their future careers. Beyond that, I love learning and then teaching new things. It keeps my job both challenging and interesting,” he said when asked how he strives for excellence in his own work.

When Neumont’s leadership, staff, and faculty—like Beatty—consider the impact their efforts have on students, the significance of the work becomes evident. Neumont staff and faculty strive to improve every aspect of our institution with the belief that the results of our efforts positively impact our community. We expect excellence from each other, and we try to instill that in our colleagues, students, and alumni.

We are constantly striving for excellence to improve lives through education.

CULTIVATING A STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACH

“Students who enroll at Neumont entrust us with their educational and professional future,” said Jeremiah Harrison, manager of academic systems and faculty chair for general education at Neumont College of Computer Science. “We do not take that great responsibility lightly.” Harrison says the College's entire focus is on each individual student and striving to fulfill our commitment to them, which he describes as  “providing [them] with life-changing educational opportunities that lead to fulfilling careers.”

Associate Director of Admissions Jasmine Peña echoes Harrison's sentiments. “We see the value in the Neumont model and the positive impact it can have on our students." When asked how her team is student-centered, she went on to say, “Our focus is not just current students, but we are also working to find future students who would benefit from our educational system. We look for ways to partner with alumni that benefit the entire student-cycle: from prospective students, to current students, and graduates.”

Director of Financial Aid Nate Blanchard says being student-centered goes well-beyond the classroom and the project-based curriculum: “It also has to do with understanding and recognizing the financial burden placed on today’s college students,” He says, noting that his team is tasked with discovering ways to support students and minimize their financial burden any way possible. Whether that’s through finding grants or scholarships, gaining an understanding of financial literacy, or helping students understand the importance of budgeting, ultimately his team is working for the student.

Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fullmer notes that every day choices in the workplace effect students, “The resources we oversee are directly related to tuition costs. So every employee is tasked with using those resources wisely, ultimately to provide the best services possible to our students—past, present and future.”

NEUMONT’S MISSION AND VALUES STATEMENT

“On numerous occasions I have shared with our staff, faculty and you how much I love Neumont because of my passion for computer science education,” said Neumont President Aaron Reed, Ed.D., this afternoon in an email to students where he echoed Monday’s announcement that Neumont had officially launched it’s new mission statement,

"Improving lives through education."

“A mission statement should inspire and drive action,” Reed said. “We are an institution full of people who are passionate about computer science education; it’s time our mission statement better represented who we are and what drive us.”

Over the next five days we’ll be taking a look at the supporting values that govern this new mission statement:

• Tirelessly passionate about education

• Student-centered

• Striving for excellence

• Innovative

• Inclusive

• United

We’re kicking off the week with our value “Tirelessly passionate about education,” because at Neumont, it’s a passion for education that drives our faculty, staff and administration. What many in academia (or any sector) may deem as the drudgery of work, the inspiring mission of “changing lives through education”  helps Neumont faculty to more fully recognize and embrace the potential impact they have on the lives of others.

We recruit faculty and staff who embrace and live the culture of life-long learning. Our most successful faculty members are passionate computer scientists and developers with comprehensive industry experience and a desire to share what they’ve learned with students.

We recruit students who have already made the bold decision to pursue an education in computer science. Many of our students will be the first in their family to attend college. With the knowledge and skills they’ve attained during their time at Neumont, they change not only their lives, but set a new course for their family and generations to come.  

3D PRINTED FOSSILS BY SHANE ROULEAU

Each quarter, students in Neumont College of Computer Science's Bachelor of Science degree programs present their Capstone Project to a panel of faculty and staff to show they're ready to take on Enterprise Projects their senior year. This month we're highlighting a few of the remarkable projects developed by students in the business technology operations management program (BSTM).

Illinois-native Shane Rouleau saw an opportunity to apply technology to his paleontology hobby when he began his Capstone Project. Early on, Shane met with area museums to find ways technology could help them succeed. The North American Museum of Ancient Life had an opportunity: They had a fossil they wanted to test, but could not for fear of damaging the ancient bone. 

However, Shane quickly recognized a modern solution to this problem: 3D Printing. He set to work connecting the museum to a printer. At a meeting between the museum reps, Shane realized that project management was about connection. He had successfully helped a museum find the resources it needed to continue its paleontology work.

He plans to continue to work with the museum printing additional fossils for continued testing. He is currently working with DealerSocket on an Enterprise Project as a project manager and programmer. 

SPORTS DATA ANALYTICS BY JOSH LITTLE

Each quarter, students across all five bachelor's degree programs at Neumont College of Computer Science present their Capstone Project. This penultimate project demonstrates each student's ability to conceive, plan, develop, and present a technology-focused project in only 10 weeks. 

Josh Little

This week we're featuring Bachelor of Science in Business Operations and Technology Management Senior Josh Little for his project that brought together his passion for sports and his aptitude for technology as he developed a cloud-based data warehouse for data analytics using public data from the NFL. 

A Las Vegas, Nevada native, Josh came to Neumont after working for a few years and recognizing that he wanted a more stable career path. Josh plays ultimate Frisbee, manages a gaming channel, and runs a fantasy football league in addition to being an avid fan of football and hockey. 

After majoring in Technology Management, Josh settled on expanding his skills in data analytics through Capstone to show high-level football organizations the value of his skills and data management.

"This project serves a need rather than solving a problem by providing a way to store, operate, and visualize massive amounts of data in a way that makes sense and is usable," said Josh describing the purpose of his project. 

Josh Little (back, middle) helped mentor first-year students during his sophomore year at Neumont as a Peer Leader.

Developing a project, Josh would be proud to put his name on was a challenge to find a way to bring together sports and technology. He said, "I decided to create something that would marry my aptitude for technology with my passion for sports and carve out my own little niche in the tech world."

One of the most challenging aspects of any Capstone Project (especially one like this) is solving problems without any direction. Josh created his own system of self-evaluation to determine the best solution to problems he faced. 

He also found it rewarding to create a project he was deeply passionate about. "First and foremost, I felt good about myself even when I didn't know where I was going during this project," he said. The project ultimately opened up new opportunities for Josh and he is now completing an Enterprise Project with University of Utah Football Director of Sports Science Ernest Rimer.

"I have a skill set that I’ve been honing and still have room to grow; I have an ability to self-motivate and self-direct; and I have an Enterprise project to work on that I feel incredibly passionate about and excited for," said Josh when asked about his senior year. 

Josh thanks his dad, Ken Little for helping him find the courage to persevere and continue his education in technology despite worries that there may not be a place for a sports guy in tech. Ken helped Josh evaluate his passions and chase those goals regardless of his degree. "Time has proven him right," he said. "It turns out there will always be room for me in places that I am willing to make it." 

PUBLISH.ME BY MORGAN SMITH

Each quarter, students across all five bachelor's degree programs at Neumont College of Computer Science present their Capstone Project. This penultimate project demonstrates each student's ability to conceive, plan, develop, and present a technology-focused project in only 10 weeks. 

Over the next few weeks, we'll be highlighting some outstanding projects from seniors currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Operations and Technology Management degree. This program focuses on teaching grads how to connect developers and business leaders.

Morgan Smith developed a project called "Publish.ME." This web platform aims to remove the bottleneck publishers face when looking for new authors while providing an open platform for writers to gain exposure for their work. 

"Primarily, Publish.ME is solving the greatest barrier to entry for new authors to gain traction in the industry," said Morgan. "It's empowering the writers of the world and eliminating luck from the publishing equation via technology."

Morgan Smith presents his startup, Publish.ME, to his peers and faculty for his Capstone Project presentation.

Previously, Morgan's tech startup won $1,000 in seed money through Get Seeded. He started work on the project in his Project Management in Practice course. Over the next year, he continued to develop the idea in his free time and as part of coursework for other classes. 

Morgan found inspiration from his own love of writing to create a platform where more writers could be published. "As far back as I have memories of anything, I remember creating some sort of art. Eventually I decided that writing would be my primary focus as an artist," said Morgan as he explains his passion for the project. "But at one point, I had a professional writer look me in the eyes and say, 'It's literally a game of chance. I got lucky.' Something snapped in my brain, and I decided I would change the billion-dollar industry that somehow ran on luck."

Once Morgan recognized the bottleneck created by the "slush pile," which is an over saturation of content from aspiring writers, he knew he could use technology to innovate the publishing process. 

He is currently continuing  production on the project and plans to launch the initial software in July 2018.