2005 IAB Meeting  (Chair: Jim Bobeck)

2004 IAB Meeting  (Chair: Dr. Winnie Peterson)

2003 IAB Meeting (Chair: Dr. Winnie Peterson)

Topic: Continuing Education and Professional Enhancement

This topic of this year’s IAB meeting basically asks the question, “What can the Mathematics and Computer Science Department do to help in improving your employees?”  Determining if any type of continuing education program can fulfill industry needs to keep its workforce up-to-date was the meeting’s overall goal.  Several representatives from industry, including Astra-Zenica, East Penn Manufacturing, Agere, and Backbone Security, participated.

The first question posed, “What are your employees strengths and weaknesses?” brought a flurry of discussion on several topics.  These are summarized below:

Learning New Technologies: Some employees do not learn new technologies on their own.  A formal program on new technologies may help.  Certification programs may also be another possibility but there was a discussion of the uselessness of certifications in general.

Problem Solving: At the heart of Mathematics and Computer Science jobs is problem solving.  Everyday, employees are faced with problems that need to be solved.  Having problem solving skills is important.

Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship was brought up in the context of the outsourcing currently going on in the software industry.  Students coming out of the Computer Science program may need these skills if their jobs are eliminated due to outsourcing.

Legacy Knowledge: This was the one strength of employees that was discussed.  Current employees have a wealth of knowledge of the company for which they work as well as the projects on which they work.  An important consideration is how to transfer this knowledge to newer employees.

 Information Management: This discussion centered on the managing the flood of information coming at employees and how they need help to manage it all. 

The discussion then turned to how Kutztown could help.  One suggestion was for Kutztown to offer occasional courses (both credit and non-credit and both on campus or on-site) as identified by the employers.  Another option was to develop programs in which an employee could earn or complete a degree or certification.

2002 IAB Meeting (Chair: Dr. Oskars Rieksts)

This year the theme of our session was “IT Professional Employment Opportunities:  Where We Are, Where We Are Headed, And What Skill Sets Distinguish Individuals For Bridging Near-Term Success Into Long-Term Careers.”  

The panel discussions were focused on IT needs at the members workplaces, with feedback indicating  what technical knowledge as well as hands-on training are needed to prepare a CIS or Math major (both B.S. & M.S.) to step through the door of opportunity and “hit the ground running” as an IT professional.

2001 IAB Meeting (Chair: Dr. Oskars Rieksts)

This year the theme of our session was “Information Security.”  Our keynote speaker was Professor Glenn D. Watt.  Mr. Watt is on the faculty of East Stroudsburg University and teaches in the new BS in Information Security program.   He is also president of BackBone Security.

The panel discussions were focused on security issues at the members workplaces, with feedback to KU students indicating what background in IT security would make a KU CIS or Math major (both B.S. & M.S.) a desirable hire.

2000 IAB Meeting (Chair: Dr. Oskars Rieksts)

This year the theme of our session was “Keeping Us On Track.” 

The panel discussions were focused on recent modifications to the KU B.S Programs in Mathematics and Computer Science as well as the currently under construction 5-year BS/MS degree program in Computer Science.  The industrial members provided feedback to KU of their and their employees interests in these programs.

1999 IAB Meeting (Chair: Dr. Oskars Rieksts)

This year the theme of our session was “Models of Industry/Community/University Cooperation for Technology Workforce Development.” 

The panel consisted of representatives from HUBS (a four-state technology consortium), Ben Franklin Technology Center, Technology Committee of Lehigh County, Right Management Consultants as well as our corporate IAB members.

1998 IAB Meeting (Chair: Dr. Cherry Mauk)

This year the focus of our session was on Internships.

It's dual purpose was to provide KU students an understanding of what duties and responsibilities are required by these opportunities, as well as to provide our IAB members a feeling for the caliber of KU students in the Mathematics and Computer Science programs.