Winter 2013 – Seidenberg School News

A Message from the Dean

First of all, I must thank the Seidenberg Community for the warm welcome that I have received since coming to Pace in mid-August. I am excited to be back on the east coast to lead new initiatives and promote existing programs to flourish. I was at MIT from 1979 to 2004. Between 2004 and 2012, I spent the academic year at the University of Arizona and the summers at MIT. The Seidenberg School is unique as it encompasses all aspects of Computer Science and Information Systems.

It has been a busy time at the Seidenberg School. The Information Assurance Program continues to be strong at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. We have been reaccredited as a National Center of Academic Excellence:

http://www.pace.edu/seidenberg/research/labs/information-assurance-education-and-research-center

Students receive full scholarships from the Department of Homeland Security or the Scholarship for Service Program through a grant from the National Science Foundation, and faculty and students collaborate on research on Biometric Keystroke Recognition and diverse facets of Cybersecurity.

I am instituting a new initiative on TeleHealth, based on my assessment that this is going to be the next trillion dollar industry. Back in 2001, I proposed the notion that healthcare applications should be handled in a three pronged manner involving on-site personnel, off-site personnel, and advanced computer techniques. My ongoing research in the area of Telemedicine The Constitutionality of Current Legal Barriers to Telemedicine in the United States: Analysis and Future Directions of Its Relationship to National and International Health Care Reform,”(with D. Sao), Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine , 11, 2011.), coupled with my research focusing on distributed teams and the concept of a 24 hour knowledge factory Expanding the 24 Hour Workplace, Wall Street Journal, September 15, 2007 (extended article and online podcast interview), looks at the technical, business, medical, legal, public policy, economic, and other hurdles related to this emerging field. The Seidenberg School anticipates offering the first of an array of courses related to telemedicine in the Spring 2013 semester.

Based on the growing realization and computers and technology are increasingly relevant to all fields of study, we have increased the number of Seidenberg courses that are available to all members of the PACE community. CIS101 was the course that students from other programs at PACE University normally took at Seidenberg School. Commencing Spring 2013, we will have the following set of 5 courses for students from other schools of PACE University:

CIS 101, Introduction to Computing

CIS 103, Problem Solving Using Technology

CIT 110, Introduction to Information Technology (also a Writing-enhanced course)

CS 121, Computer Programming I

TS 105, Computers for Human Empowerment

My colleagues and I are Seidenberg School are currently involved in designing new interdisciplinary courses and programs with other schools.

I look forward to continuing to meet new folks from the industry, our illustrious alums, and current students. Please keep in touch with us and review our website (http://seidenberg.pace.edu) often to learn of the new and exciting initiatives within the School.

Amar Gupta

Dean and Professor

MyPace Mobile app is now available for download in App Store, Android Market, and Blackberry App World!

The “MyPace Mobile” app has debuted on the Android Store this week joining the versions already available on the iOS and Blackberry platforms. MySpace Mobile is an initiative by the ITS department and the school to better connect students with resources that will answer their questions about the school. The app is able to be accessed from any smart phone with an internet connection

The app is subdivided into modules that allows students to stay connected with Pace University wherever they are. The app will allow students to keep up with the latest news from the Pace Pulse and videos of recent events. For academics students can look up courses, including announcements about current ones, final exam times and room assignments and have access to a directory of university students, faculty and staff. The app will also help students navigate around campus with maps and a bus schedule for shuttles. These are just some of the features available now and more are planned to be rolled out. Students will also be able to fill out surveys and submit feedback via the app to help make it better.

Pace University Named Best Online Bachelor’s Program according to U.S. News and World Report

Pace University placed 1st out of 237 schools surveyed in the latest poll from the U.S News and World Report on Online Bachelor’s Degree programs. Pace’s online program, iPace, scored a 70.2, over 5 points higher than the next school on the list. Universities were judged on a number of criteria including graduation rates, indebtedness of new graduates, and academic and career support services offered to students. Pace also placed #13 for Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs

Pace University placed 1^st out of 237 schools surveyed in the latest poll from the U.S News and World Report on Online Bachelor’s Degree programs. Pace’s online program, iPace and Nactel, scored a 70.2, over 5 points higher than the next school on the list. Universities were judged on a number of criteria including graduation rates, indebtedness of new graduates, and academic and career support services offered to students. Pace also placed #13 for Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs

The iPace and NACTEL program allows students that have begun a bachelor’s degree but were unable to finish in a traditional time frame to still receive their degree. The program offers a Bachelors of Business Administration in Business Studies and Bachelors of Science degrees in Nursing, Professional Communication Studies and Professional Technology Studies.

The courses for the online programs were co-developed with experts from The National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL). In a NACTEL press statement Dr. David Sachs, professor at the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, said “We’re thrilled that Pace University has been chosen for the US News & World Report’s Honor Roll of colleges and universities that provide excellent online education. He added “We’re privileged to have been partners with NACTEL since 1999, developing quality online education for the information technology industry. The results of that partnership are evident in this award.” In the same statement Bridget Trapanese, a current student and Verizon Communications employee, said “Going to school online at Pace University has been a godsend for me.”

Online degree programs such as Coursera and edX were not ranked because they do not offer full degrees, or credits. Pace was one of only two New York area schools in the top 25 – the other being St. John’s University.

If you’d like to see the rest of the ranking they can be found here – http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/rankings

Amar Gupta Welcome Breakfast at University Club

It is a bit of Pace folklore that in the 1960’s when asked why an accounting school should include an English department the then president Dr. Edward J. Mortola replied “because I want our accountants to have the best written reports”. It is in this same spirit of interdisciplinary support that current President Friedman places a large emphasis on making sure that all Pace students are outfitted with the information technology skills they will need for the 21st century.

The man he has picked to spearhead this approach is Dr. Amar Gupta the new Dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. A reception was held for him at the University Club on Tuesday January 8^th 2013. At the reception he gave a speech entitled “Emerging Innovative Applications of Information Technology”.

Dr. Gupta comes to Pace University from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona in Tucson where he held an endowed professorship and was known for his role in nurturing new research and interdisciplinary programs, including one that allowed students to receive two graduate degrees and a certificate in entrepreneurship. He was a visiting scientist at MIT where he served as the founding co-director of the Productivity from Information Technology (PROFIT) initiative and has worked with large organizations such as IBM and the United Nations.

President Friedman praised Dr. Gupta saying that he joins the university at a pivotal moment in history and that he is very confident in his abilities. Dr. Gupta began his speech by talking about his “24-Hour Knowledge Factory”. An initiative that he developed it focuses on dividing a project into parts that are then passed off from team to team across the globe. Work may begin during the day in an American office, be passed off to an Australian or Chinese colleague, then to a colleague in Europe and finally back to the American office. The initiative promises to revolutionize how organizations approach problem solving since it allows the same number of man hours to produce products much more quickly in calendar time. As Dr. Gupta put it this new approach challenges the 1000 year old paradigm that distance is an impediment to business, instead it may serve as an asset by harnessing the best and brightest from across the globe.

Dr. Gupta also spoke about the need for interdisciplinary approaches to solve current problems such as healthcare. He gave several examples of the benefits of Telemedicine, which uses current information technology to connect patients with doctors that can help them treat their symptoms. This approach is particularly useful in rural parts of the nation where patients may be very far away from skilled medical practitioners. He compared the current problem to previous issues he encountered working with Citibank and IBM on check processing technology.

Dr. Gupta closed the speech by showcasing his plans for improving the university which include dual degree programs that reflect industry needs and setting up consortiums with large organizations and students. He also placed a great emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving, bidirectional national flows of information and the importance of innovation.

People may rarely see the value of new technology initially but the value of Dr. Gupta to Pace University is clear and we are glad to have him on board.