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Software Engineering (and Computer Science) Status Report
Fall 2012
Ira Weissberger is our new faculty member in Software Engineering.
Abrar Qureshi and James Vance tenured.
Daniel Ray has a one course reduction to allow time to continue work on our recruitment efforts.
Received a positive ABET report on Computer Science. The program is up for a full review in four years. However, EAC report indicated continued weakness in Software Engineering.
Will have meetings with department and assessment committee on how to best respond to EAC report.
Based on Robert Hatch's work, we are implementing changes in the introductory C++ class.
We are sponsoring two Lego League teams this year.
Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday, Oct 2.
Daniel Ray met with the AITES group.
Summer 2012
We have articles and/or ads placed in Newsweek, Software Engineering Insider, and Virginia Business
We ran the S.P.I.R.I.T summer camp for middle school students (had been for high school students before) and used the Lego robotics system.
Spring 2012
Interviewing candidates for the Software Engineering faculty position
Admitted Student Day -- people who have been accepted, but had not yet made a decision, were invited to spend a day with the department.
Robert Hatch has a reduced course load. He will be investigating ways that we can improve CSC 1180 Foundations of Computer Programming in C++, our intro course for majors
Working on response to the recent ABET visit.
Daniel Ray visited Damascus Middle School (near Abingdon) as part of our participation in AITES project.
Three of our faculty won college awards:
Matt Harvey -- Harrison Award in Teaching
James Vance -- Harrison Award for Enabling Student Research
Daniel Ray -- Harrison Rising Star Award
The department gave two student awards this year.
Jacob Thomas received the Outstanding Senior in Mathematics award.
Chris Eldridge received the Outstanding Senior in Computer Science award.
Fall 2011
We have a new faculty member, Shafagh Jafer, here on a one year appointment, replacing Carlos Otero. Shafagh has her PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carleton University, in Ottawa Ontario.
We are starting a search for a permanent replacement for Carlos.
Currently interviewing for a full-time administrative assistant.
We will have an interim visit from ABET in the middle of October.
The Computer Science / Software Engineering Advisory board meets on Tuesday, Oct 4.
Abrar Qureshi has a reduced course load this semester.
Daniel Ray has a one course reduction and is working on a formal recruiting plan.
We have one First Lego League team this year.
We are working with Appalachian Information Technology Extension Services (AITES), a grant funded organization at Virginia Tech, who's mission is to promote information technology education among young women.
Everyone now has a private office -- the cubicles are gone. The space is going to be used for a conference room for the department.
We are the proud owners of a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic 3d printer.
Summer 2011
We used Foundation money to buy tablet computers for the faculty and staff -- Apple iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom.
Robert Hatch presented a paper at WorldComp. The paper was about the work we have done with the computer literacy class.
Spring 2011
Jacob Somervell has a reduced course load this semester.
Software Engineering faculty member, Abrar Qureshi, is promoted to Associate Professor, effective August 2011.
Computer Science faculty member Robert Hatch gets a positive pre-tenure review.
The software engineering capstone project appears to have been a success.
Software Engineering Faculty member, Carlos Otero, left at the end of the semester. He did publish several papers this past year.
We formed a college-wide committee to advise the department on assessment issues.
Senior awards went to Steven Clark for Outstanding Senior in Computer Science, Tabitha McCoy for Outstanding Senior in Mathematics, and Dru Luce-Edwards for Excellence in Leadership (for his work on the software engineering project).
Fall 2010
We are busy developing a marketing plan for software engineering and the other programs in the department.
The students in our senior software engineering capstone class (plus several other students) are building a software product for Northrop Grumman.
Our Computer Science / Software Engineering Advisory Committee meeting will be Tuesday, October 5.
We received ABET accreditation for Software Engineering and for Computer Science!
We are preparing for an interim visit next fall.
We have enough young people involved to run two Lego League teams this year.
Sadly, we are still waiting for corrections and repairs to be finished on our lab space in the newly renovated Science Building.
As part of our plan to give faculty release time for research, Daniel Ray has a reduced course load this semester.
Summer 2010
Abrar Qureshi did a summer faculty internship at CGI.
We lost two members of the mathematics faculty at the end of the spring semester -- Morris Akers and Michael Chan.
Both taught courses for our technology programs
-- Math 1180 Probability and Statistics (Akers and Chan), CSC 3600 Operations Research (Akers),
and CSC 4500 Modeling and Simulation (Akers). We are doing a search for replacements.
Update: we were able to hire one replacement to teach needed math courses, but not for the above classes.
Daniel Ray ran the S.P.I.R.I.T summer camp. The camp was a success, but we need more students to enroll.
Abrar Qureshi and Daniel Ray did workshops for young people interested in the Lego League competitions.
Spring 2010
Daniel Ray had a successful pre-tenure review.
Computer Science faculty member, Jacob Somervell, had a successful tenure promotion review. His promotion to Associate Professor will be effective Aug 2010
Mathematics faculty member, Matt Harvey, had a successful tenure and promotion review. His promotion to Associate Professor will be effective Aut 2010.
Carlos Otero is now teaching in our Software Engineering program.
We instituted some changes in the CS program in response to the ABET draft report.
The package tracking system developed for the college post office by the software engineering students became operational.
Fall 2009
We are preparing for ABET's on sight visit which will be Nov 1, 2, and 3.
We are interviewing candidates for an open faculty position in Software Engineering.
Update: We have hired Carlos Otero. He has a Ph.D. From Florida Institute of Technology. He starts teaching in January.
Our next Software Engineering/Computer Science Advisory Board meeting will be Tue, Oct 6. At the spring meeting, the board decided to hold meetings in the fall so that any suggested curriculum changes would would make it into the next college catalog.
The department is working with local groups to start teams for a First Lego League competition. We are working with the local school system, local businesses, and the Southwest Virginia Technology Council to make this happen. Several faculty members have volunteered to coach teams.
The department is piloting a new version of our CSC 1100 Computer Literacy course.
Summer 2009
Our first SPIRIT Summer Camp was a success. Daniel Ray spent a week working with eight high school students as they learned to program robotics systems.
We submitted our ABET reports for Software Engineering and for Computer Science
Spring 2009
Daniel Ray is working on a robotics summer camp (Summer Program in Robotics and Intelligent Technology -- SPIRIT) for area high school students.
Filed application with ABET in January.
Advisory Committee will meet for the first time.
Preparing to move into new computer lab space in the Science Center. The building renovation is due to be complete this summer.
Fall 2008
ABET Self Study officially started.
Software Engineering articulation agreements with area community colleges officially signed.
College Advisory Board approves our Software Engineering and Computer Science Advisory Committee.
We have one exchange student from the University of Glamorgan.
Faculty Search
Frank Xu, Assistant Professor of Software Engineering left Wise.
Robert Hatch was hired late in the spring and begins teaching this semester. Robert has a Ph.D in CS from The University of Alabama and an MS in SE from Auburn University. He is teaching courses in both CS and SE.
We advertized the open Software Engineering position, but due to the state's budget crisis, did not follow through.
Summer 2008
Abrar Qureshi offers a professional training class "Effective Software Testing" at the Southwest Virginia Technology Development Center.
Spring 2008
The search continues for an additional CS faculty member.
Wendy Adrian begins working as an administrative/office assistant for the department.
We are finalizing the requirements for an advisory committee for the computer science and software engineering programs.
We are beginning our ABET self study. Two faculty members will be attending an ABET Best Practices Symposium in April
We are working on plans to offer courses and training programs at the Lebanon, VA Technology Center. These programs will initially be aimed to meet the needs of CGI and Northrop Grumman employees.
Current SE Classes:- Sweg 213 Software Construction Technology - 3 students
- Sweg 221 Testing, Verification, and Validation - 5 students
- Sweg 321 Software Quality Assurance - 2 students
- Sweg 322 Software Requirements and Modeling - 4 students
- Sweg 323 Software Configuration Management - 5 students
Fall 2007
Faculty Search
We published an ad for a CS faculty member. The department will start evaluating the applications in December.
Software Engineering Articulation Agreements With Local Community Colleges
We have met with representatives of each of the the three local community colleges - Mountain Empire, Southwest, and Virginia Highlands. We are looking over proposals and working out the details.
Virginia IT Workforce Summit
Two department members attended the summit in Culpeper. The discussions were all about how to improve enrollment in IT education programs.
Student Exchange Agreement with University in the UK
We are in the process of signing an agreement for a student exchange program for software engineering students with the University of Glamorgan in Wales. Andrew Ware, Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Glamorgan, visited Wise in August. Representatives from Wise are supposed to travel to Wales in October to formally sign the agreement.
Down the Road Toward ABET Accreditation
This semester we begin the process of gaining accreditition for both Computer Science and Software Engineering. Three members of the department are attending an accreditation workshop on Oct 5.
Software Engineering Advisory Committee
We are beginning work to establish a committee of educators and professionals who will provide advice and guidance for the program.
Software Quality and Testing Lab
We are in the initial stages of creating a software testing laboratory.
New Faculty
Frank Xu (SE) and Daniel Ray (CS) begin teaching courses.
SE Courses
- Sweg 179 Engineering Leadership - 13 students
- Sweg 213 Software Construction Technology - 5 students
- Sweg 221 Software Testing - 3 students
- Sweg 279 Engineering Economics - 5 students
Current Staffing
- 3 ½ Computer Science Faculty
- 1 Open Computer Science Faculty Position
- 2 Software Engineering Faculty
- 2 Technical Support Staff
- 2 Open Technical Support Positions
Summer 2007
New Software Engineering Faculty
Weifeng (Frank) Xu was hired during the summer and will begin teaching in the fall. He has a Ph.D. from North Dakota State University (NDSU) along with several years of experience in software development.
Spring 2007
New Faculty
Abrar Qureshi (SE) begins teaching.
Daniel Ray is hired in Computer Science to replace the retiring Ross Grable. Daniel received his PhD from The University of Alabama.
And the search continues for more faculty.
New Full-time Technical Staff
Josh Moore starts work as department Webmaster and Academic Software Support Technician. Josh has a BS in Computer Science from UVa-Wise.
Meeting with architects about plans for new computer labs that are part of the renovation plans for the old science building.
SE Courses
- Sweg 213 Software Construction Technology - 4 students
- Sweg 221 Software Testing - 3 students
These students are CS majors who are either switching majors or are taking the courses as electives.
Fall 2006
Faculty Search Continues
Abrar Qureshi is hired as the college's first software engineering faculty member. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). He also has over ten years of experience with General Electric. He will start in the spring.
New Full-time Technical Staff
Jim Stewart is hired as the department's Computer Systems Administrator. Jim has a BS in Computer Information Systems from UVa-Wise. He manages the department's 130+ computer workstations and servers.
Courses
Sweg 179 Engineering Leadership is taught for the first time this semester. Steve Brooks from Thompson and Litton is teaching the course. He has nine students.
Spring 2006
Software Engineering Degree Approved
The Board of Visitors of the the University of Virginia approves the degree program in February. The State Council (SCHEV) approves the program in March.
Begin Faculty Search
We are late getting started so it isn't surprising that we don't find anyone.
Fall 2005
New Software Engineering Proposal
Based on the work and discussions that had been ongoing, we decided that we were ready to create a new program in software engineering. The computer science faculty consulted the ACM/IEEE Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Software Engineering and, in record time, put together a program. The program consists of a mix of existing math, science, and computer science courses, along with about ten new courses in engineering and software engineering.
The Faculty Senate and, soon after, the UVA-Wise College Board approves the new program.