News and Events

Computer Science & Information Technology

students help raise money for Ukraine

Helping Ukraine!  Helping Ukraine JWB 
 

On Monday, March 7, 2022, Dr. John W. Burris, Computer Science Department Head, along with Computer Science and Information Technology students, held an old-fashioned bake sale on the first floor of the Computer Science & Technology building.  Homemade baked items made by Dr. Burris and a few of our students included macaroons, pralines, brownies, vegan cookies, to name a few.  Local bakers and bakeries also contributed to the sale.   100% of the proceeds went to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.   The sale was quite a success with two individual donors that matched the total amount raised!  Thank you to all students, faculty, and donors that contributed to this important cause. 

 

Study Abroad Opportunity

An informational meeting for Technology in the UK will be held on Thursday 12/2 @ 2pm in the iHub Sims 233. 

    We will offer credit for CMPS 121, 482 and 691.

UK Study Abroad

 

 

Outstanding Students

Each year, the Computer Science faculty selects two graduates that are truly outstanding in their fields of Computer Science and Information Technology. This year we have the honor to present Lauren Pace and Cameron Tharpe with the designation of "Outstanding Student". It has been such a joy having these two in our halls, labs, offices and classrooms. We know that success will follow them wherever they go.

  Lauren Pace
Department Head, Dr. John W. Burris (left) presents award to Lauren Pace (right).

Cameron TharpeDepartment Head, Dr. John W. Burris (left) presents award to Cameron Tharpe (right). 

 

Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (vGHC '21)Grace Hopper Virtual Conference 2021

A poster titled "Gamification of a Pre-College Summer Camp" will be presented by Dr. Bonnie Achee and Dr. Matthew McNulty at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (vGHC '21) virtual conference to be held September 27 - October 1, 2021.

 

Outstanding 2020 Graduates

Outstanding 2020 Computer Science GraduateOutstanding 2020 Information Technology Graduate

(left) Outstanding Computer Science 2020 graduate, Kaleb Champagne; (right) Outstanding Information Technology 2020 graduate, Jeremiah Weaver. Congratulations!

E

 

Department of Computer Science offers mini-scholarships for industry certifications

The College of Science and Technology in coordination with the Department of Computer Science is pleased to announce funding for mini-scholarships for information technology industry certifications.  Eligible students must be majoring or minoring in Computer Science or Information Technology.  The College’s Workforce Talent Initiative (WTI) is administering the mini-scholarship program.

If any Computer Science or Information Technology student passes a pre-approved industry certification, they can have the cost of the exam awarded to them as a scholarship. This scholarship does NOT cover the cost of training, education or failed exams.

Read more about Mini-Scholarships

 

Southeastern hosts successful online Lion's Code CyberCamp

Monday, August 3, 2020 

SOUTHEASTERN HOSTS VIRTUAL LION’S CODE CYBERCAMP – Campers give an enthusiastic “Lion Up” during the Lion’s Code CyberCamp this summer. The camp provides an experience that challenges students academically in the foundational concepts of computer science and builds the skills of teamwork, public speaking and relationship building.

 

CyberCamp Participants

 

 
 HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University once again hosted the Lion’s Code CyberCamp this summer in June with new materials and an online only format. The camp was sponsored by the College of Science and Technology through the Department of Computer Science and was offered free of charge as a community service.
     Director of the Lion’s Code Camp Bonnie Achee said the camp provides an enjoyable summer camp experience for high school students that challenges them academically in the foundational concepts of computer science and builds the skills of teamwork, public speaking and relationship building.
     “This summer we stepped away from the constructs of coding to explore and develop both the critical thinking skills foundational to computer science, as well as interpersonal skills of teamwork and collaboration,” Achee said. “Campers joined the Department of HomeLion Security as Jr. Agent CyberSleuths to crack the case of ‘The Bridge’ and compete in a virtual Capture the Flag, hosted by Cyber.org.”
     Campers also had the opportunity to earn digital badges, learn about Web Cookies, cybersecurity, and cyber careers, took virtual video tours of Southeastern, the Computer Science and Technology Building, and the Computer Science Department, and watched a virtual interview with Department Head Joe Burris.
     Achee said the camp was a success thanks to an amazing team effort, with 49 campers participating from over 19 schools. Plans are already underway for next summer’s camp.
 
  
 
COMPUTER LAB HELPS SIMULATE REAL WORLD WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Prakriti Adhikari, Staff Reporter|March 19, 2019
collin n sijan envoc lab real ready world
Prakriti Adhikari/The Lion's Roar
Students work in the new computer science lab that opened on Jan. 29. The construction was paid for through donations by Envoc, a web and mobile software design, development and application-hosting firm based in Baton Rouge.
 
A new computer science lab has opened in the university to prepare students for the real world working environment.

Located in the Computer Science and Technology Building, the Envoc Innovation Lab officially opened on Jan. 29 after a yearlong construction process. The technically equipped lab was constructed with the donations from Envoc, a web and mobile software design, development and application-hosting firm based in Baton Rouge.

The lab is equipped with free Wi-Fi, white boards, stations for students to work individually or in groups, a lounge area, two rows of modern workstations, two futuristic privacy chairs and a section where students can virtually sit in during Envoc’s developer meetings.

Dr. Quoc-Nam Tran, head of the Department of Computer Science, expressed that the lab is designed to simulate a real world working environment for students.

“Actually, the current employers like Envoc, Apple or Google, they want to create an environment for the employees working so that they can have more innovation,” stated Tran. “They don’t have to sit next by other and work in the computer. Here, we concentrate on the innovation.”

The computer lab, however, does not have computers. Tran shared that students can bring their own laptops, and have discussions among their group members to come up with a solution for any computer science related problems.

“You don’t see any computers, but actually it is constructed with the newest technology,” stated Tran. “We have the wireless connection there. We have everything for a group to work on their innovative ideas.”

In a press release from the university, Calvin Fabre, CEO of Envoc, expressed that the lab will help create opportunities for future developers.

“Many of our Envoceans at our Hammond office are Southeastern graduates, as am I, and we like to stay involved and create learning opportunities for future developers,” commented Fabre. “We personally help develop the computer science curriculum at Southeastern, and some of our Envoceans even facilitate project classes, offering students an opportunity to work side-by-side with thriving professionals on innovative projects. The innovation lab enhances that experience on campus.”

The facility will mainly be useful for students in project classes.

“We have a special class we call the capstone class,” explained Tran. “Capstone project is when students start working with real-world problems. The main point here is that we want to prepare students for their future career. This lab, it’s very well into what we are training our students.”

Collin Cashio, a senior computer science major, works as a mentor in the Envoc Innovation Lab, and he feels students have profited from the facility.

“It’s benefited not only me, but the other students that want to come in here and take a break, or study, work on computer science related things, or if they have issues with computer science 161, 280, 290 and 390,” said Cashio.

The innovation lab is different from the other computer lab in the building.

“It’s nicer,” shared Cashio. “We have a lot of white boards and a lot of room to think. It’s colored particularly well. I do like the design of this, and it also feels really relaxing coming in here.”

The computer lab is open to students from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The room can also be booked for use after 5 p.m.

April 30, 2019
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HONORS CONVOCATION
We are very proud of our Computer Science graduates to have received such a strategic award. We were able to honor two students for Spring 2019, Donald Vicknair and Charles Norsworthy. Congratulations to you both.
charles norsworthy grad senior award  donald vicknair grad senior award

 

April 27, 2019
CONNECTING WITH TECHNOLOGY AT SOUTHEASTERN 

cs student subal sapkotaSoutheastern hosted Tech Connect, its annual career fair for technology on Wednesday (March 27). Subal Sapkota, right, a computer science major, speaks with Meredith Meyers, a recruiter for CGI, a global information technology consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, and solutions company, about scheduling an onsite interview for career opportunities with the organization. 
 
A collaborative effort between the Office of Career Services and the departments of Computer Science and Industrial and Engineering Technology, Tech Connect attracted more than 45 area employers looking to fill numerous positions in high-demand technology fields. 

February 26, 2019
 COMPUTER SCIENCE ACM-W & ACM EVENT SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER 

dr carver from lsu

The Computer Science Department guest speaker for faculty, staff and students ACM & ACM-W (Association of Computing Machinery) Event was Tuesday, February 26, at 5 p.m., in room the Computer Science and Technology Building, Room 2025.

Dr. Doris Carver, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Distinguished Speaker, discussed her current research in software engineering, as well as opportunities for student research. Dr. Carver directs the Software Engineering Laboratory at LSU, where her current research interests include conformance testing distributes systems, requirement traceability, model-driven software development, and reverse engineering. Her research has received funding from NSF, NASA and private sources.

Carver received a Ph.D. in computer science from Texas A&M and is a Dow Chemical Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at LSU. She has sat on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Computing and Information since 1995, the Editorial Board of IEEE Computer since 2007 and the Board of Directors of Computing Research Association since 2001.

She has served previously as Chair of the IEEE Fellow Committee, Editor-In-Chief of IEEE Computer, President of the IEEE Computer Society, Associate Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development and Interim Den of the Graduate School at LSU, Associate Commissioner of Sponsored Research and Development, and NSF Program Director at the Board of Regents.

Carver has received innumerable awards, including the LSU Distinguished Teaching Award, Graduate Teaching Award and the Esprit DeFemme Award. A former Southeastern faculty member, she was Department Head of Computer Science and major professor to Dr. Achee, Dr. Alkadi, and Dr. Burris.


January 29, 2019
SOUTHEASTERN STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM HIGH TECH COMPUTER LAB envoc ribbon cutting

     Southeastern students will soon benefit from a high-tech computer lab thanks to a generous donation from Envoc, a web and mobile software design, development and application-hosting firm based in Baton Rouge, with a second location in Hammond.
     Pending University of Louisiana System Board approval, the new space will be named the Envoc Innovation Lab and is located in the newly constructed Computer Science and Technology Building on Southeastern’s campus.
     After years of integrated teaching and mentorship in college classrooms, Envoc is investing in a more permanent involvement by funding development of the new lab, said Envoc CEO Calvin Fabre. Officially opened Jan. 29, the new lab will provide a work-like environment on campus that is an extension of Envoc’s company culture and mission to create a better reality.
     “Many of our Envoceans at our Hammond office are Southeastern graduates, as am I, and we like to stay involved and create learning opportunities for future developers,” said Fabre. “We personally help develop the computer science curriculum at Southeastern, and some of our Envoceans even facilitate project classes, offering students an opportunity to work side-by-side with thriving professionals on innovative projects. The Innovation Lab enhances that experience on campus.”
     Southeastern Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Undergraduate Coordinator of Computer Science and Industrial Technology John Burris worked closely with Envoc to organize the lab’s conception and opening.
     “Students are highly motivated by the opportunity to experience a real-world work environment, so the vision for the Innovation Lab was to immerse students in the environment of a software agency and encourage professionalism and innovation,” said Burris.
     Designed to mirror Envoc’s offices and provide students with a variety of stations to work alone or with a group, the new lab contains a lounge area, two rows of modern workstations, two futuristic privacy chairs, and a section where students can virtually sit in on Envoc’s developer meetings. 
     “The innovation center is the result of education and software institutions coming together to invest in young developers,” said Professor of Computer Science Ghassan Alkadi. “The lab will provide an environment for computer science majors to receive professional mentorship, work on client-based projects, and gain knowledge beyond what can be self-taught or learned in a textbook.”
     For more information, contact the Department of Computer Science at 549-5740.

 HIGH TECH COMPUTER LAB NOW OPEN - Southeastern students will soon benefit from a high-tech computer lab thanks to a generous donation from Envoc, a web and mobile software design, development and application-hosting firm based in Baton Rouge, with a second location in Hammond. Pending University of Louisiana System Board approval, the new space will be named the Envoc Innovation Lab and is located in the newly constructed Computer Science and Technology Building on Southeastern’s campus. Cutting the ribbon are, from left, Southeastern President John L. Crain and Envoc CEO Calvin Fabre.