Campus
NEWS n
Southern Academy students are ready for sixth grade — and have college in their sights.
College Bound In a quiet, unassum-
ing room in Engleman Hall last summer, the important work of “building little citizens” was under way, says Aaron Washington, associate dean of student affairs, commenting on one of the outcomes of Southern Academy (SA), an enrich-
most
ment program for New
students.
Haven schoolchildren that
SA is one such
began on Southern’s cam-
program with a
pus in 2011.
goal of helping New
The achievement
recent group of 16 students had just finished grade five,
Haven school children
says Washington, and
gap in Connecticut is one
enhance their skills in key
included a few of the origi-
of the worst in the country,
areas — and ultimately go
nal students.
and Southern strives to
on to college and earn
level the playing field with
their degrees.
a variety of programs
The four-week sum-
The program, which focuses primarily on literacy, ment activities. The first
has had promising results.
aimed at supporting the
mer program ran five days
group of 25 students, all
Based on pre- and post-test
education of local elemen-
a week and included aca-
rising fourth graders, start-
data, SA students have
tary and secondary school
demic work and enrich-
ed SA in June 2011. The
made tremendous progress in reading and writing each
n
Computer Savvy
summer. Socially, students
The Computer Science Department has restructured its Master of Science degree program to better meet student needs and the demands of the changing workforce. The
have improved their ability to work together, express
department is offering two new tracks — software development and network and informa-
their ideas, and contribute
tion security (cybersecurity).
to a group. In another significant change, the program is now
SA’s literacy coach,
designed to accommodate computer professionals and
Lauren Skultety, who does
those who wish to move into the computer field from other
the planning and primary
areas of study. For those without the necessary level of pro-
instruction at SA, has been
gramming knowledge and skill, a new prerequisite has been
with the program since its
developed — a four-credit course on computer programming
onset and is inspired by
and data structures.
the progress she sees.
“Previously, the M.S. program was designed primarily for students who earned a bach-
“I think our students
elor’s degree in computer science,” says Lisa Lancor, chair for the department. “But we had
have become more critical
been getting increased interest from individuals who had bachelor’s degrees in other disci-
thinkers about the world
plines and wanted to move into the computer field. We have students who majored in music,
around them,” Skultety says.
political science, and other disciplines not closely related to computer science. So, we revamped the program to make it more flexible.”
More information is available at SouthernCT.edu/go/cscms. 6 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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