Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is scheduled to provide the keynote address for the fourth annual Arkansas Computer Science Education Leadership Summit at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville on Thursday, Oct. 12.
The keynote address is entitled “How Does Computer Science Education Affect the Pipeline for Business and Economic Growth in Arkansas?” It will begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall.
Becky Cunningham, visiting assistant professor of computer and information science at ATU and one of the organizers of the conference, said that approximately 350 individuals have already registered for the 2017 Arkansas Computer Science Education Leadership Summit.
On-site conference registration is $90, and individuals interested in signing up on the day of the event may do so from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Doc Bryan Student Services Center lobby.
According to the itinerary for the day, the Arkansas Computer Science Education Leadership Summit is designed to produce four outcomes:
- Identify computer science education policy changes including K-12 curriculum, university programs, teacher licensure and professional development
- Increase computer science connections between school districts, universities, business and industry
- Explore how and why we must generate interest in computer science in high school
- Increase the computer science pipeline by expanding in-school and out-of-school opportunities
Additional speakers during the opening session of the conference will include Dr. Robin E. Bowen, ATU president; Vic Dreier, director of the Arkansas Tech University STEM Center; and Dr. David Greer, senior vice president and chief programs officer for Project Lead the Way.
The remainder of the day will provide attendees with access to speakers and information intended to connect the ideas of computing education and careers and entrepreneurship in computing.
The ATU Department of Computer and Information Science offers Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science, computer science education for teacher licensure, cybersecurity, information systems and information technology.
The department also offers associate’s degrees in cybersecurity and information technology as well as a Master of Science degree in information technology.
Learn more about the ATU Department of Computer and Information Science.
