What's Happening in CoSE

Left Steve Chiu professor and chair of the computer science department at ISU and Teo Hanson software engineering student pose for a photo on ISUs Pocatello campus

First Idaho State Students to Receive Bachelor of Software Engineering Degrees Saturday

The first graduates of one of Idaho State University’s newest bachelor’s degree programs will receive their diplomas Saturday.

Some students walking across the commencement stage at the ICCU Dome will be ISU’s first students to receive a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. The degree focuses on software development skills and programming and requires students to take fewer math courses compared to computer science or computer engineering.

Kudos to Assistant Professor Farjana Eishita!

At the 8th International Conference on Software and System Engineering held in Nice, France, her paper, "Analyzing the UX Impact of Pin Functionality and Calendar Enhancement on Online LMS," earned a Best Presentation Award.

The paper detailed the results of a pilot study that analyzed how incorporating the ability to pin objects and have them added to a convenient location, as well as enhanced calendar events, affected the user experience in Moodle, a learning management system. She found that these changes showed an overall improvement in usability.

REMINDER: Summer Hours to Start May 12

Idaho State University will continue our longstanding tradition of summer hours for employees. The University’s administrative office hours will shift to Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a 30-minute lunch break, beginning on Monday, May 12. Summer hours apply to telework and on-campus working arrangements. Standard office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break, will resume on Monday, August 11.

Managers are encouraged to use flexibility and creativity in determining the best schedule for their operations to ensure continuity of responsibilities and effective customer service. Management at all campus locations should consult with their respective vice presidents, where needed, if alternate schedules might be better suited to meet the needs of students or their specific operational needs.

Darlene Batatian, an ISU Alumna, was recently named the new State Geologist and Director of the Utah Geological Survey.

The Department of Geosciences will host an alumni gathering honoring Darlene as part of the Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section Meeting at Fat Daddy's Pizzeria, 223 W Center St, Provo, on Sunday, May 18, at 6 p.m.

If you’re able to attend, please send your RSVP to geology@isu.edu.

Dean's Excellence Fund Accepting Requests from Students

The College of Science and Engineering Dean's Excellence Fund is intended to support students in their journey through ISU. The Dean's Office is particularly interested in providing financial assistance to students who might not be able to enroll in or complete the semester because of short-term financial hardships. Students seeking such support should be in good academic standing.

If you know of a student who is in need of short-term support, please have them complete this form.

CoSE Chairs and Directors Meeting Minutes

From Around ISU

ISU Recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for Student Access and Earning Potential

The Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education have named Idaho State University an accessible institution where students can expect to earn more than the median income in their field after graduation.

The University was classified as a professions-based undergraduate/graduate-doctorate institution, one of only 135 U.S. mid-sized universities to receive such a designation. Idaho State was also recognized as a higher student access-medium earnings university.

Faculty Survey: Academic Continuity Plan

Idaho State University is currently in the process of creating an Academic Continuity Plan. Academic continuity refers to the ability to maintain instructional activities during and after a disruptive event, such as a natural disaster, severe weather, pandemic, or other emergencies that impact normal campus operations.

Faculty are invited to participate in a survey to assess how prepared faculty feel they are to continue teaching during such disruptions. Additionally, your feedback will help us to identify what additional resources, training, or support may be needed to enhance academic preparedness across all colleges.

Supporting our International Employees and Students

Members of the international community, including faculty, staff and students are a much welcome and deeply valued component of the larger outstanding collective that makes up Idaho State University. The university’s teaching and research missions benefit significantly from the wealth of experience, expertise, and dedication shared by these individuals.

In response to concerns raised about the welfare of our international employees and students in the contemporary moment, several groups on campus – from the Faculty Senate, to the International Programs Office, to the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the President – have sought to provide clarification, direction, and support, and we are committed to doing so in an ongoing fashion.

Dates to Remember

May 9	Spring 2025 classes end
May 10	Commencement - Pocatello (May & August 2025 graduates)
May 13	Spring 2025 Late 8-week and full semester course grading closes at 4:00 pm
May 19	Summer 2025 Classes begin for Early-4, Early-6, Early-8 and Full term
May 26	Memorial Day holiday (Monday - no classes)
June 2	Early-4 final grading opens
June 16	Early-6 final grading opens
June 16	Middle-4 and Late-8 courses start
June 17	Early-4 final grading closes at 4:00 pm
June 19	Juneteenth Day (Thursday – no classes)
June 30	Early-8 and Middle-4 final grading opens
June 30	Late-6 courses start

Upcoming Events in the College of Science and Engineering

For a complete list of CoSE events, check out the College Event Calendar. Updates can also be found on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram. To add events to the calendar, please contact the Administrative Assistants in your department. The university-wide calendar of events is available here.

Department/Program

All

Event

Pillars of Achievement

Details

Fri, May 9

4 pm

PSUB - Salmon River Suite

Department/Program

Biological Sciences

Event

INBRE Reception

Details

Mon, May 19

9 am

GLS Lobby

Help Us Share Your Accomplishments!

Our College’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students achieve many notable research and professional accomplishments. In addition, our departments regularly have newsworthy advancements. We want to make sure those stories are shared publicly. Here are a few ways you can provide a news tip to help get the word out:

Use this Story Submission Form to send your news tip to the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Send an email to Logan McDougall (loganmcdougall@isu.edu) with a brief description of the news to be shared.

You are always welcome to create a draft story, submit it via the Story Submission Form, or send it to Logan. The Office of Marketing and Communications and Logan will coordinate to get the story finalized and distributed to the media outlets/platforms that best tell the story.

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