- Neumont University
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Neumont University 
Established 2003 President Edward H. Levine Location South Jordan, Utah, UT
40°33′22″N 111°54′43″W / 40.55611°N 111.91194°WCoordinates: 40°33′22″N 111°54′43″W / 40.55611°N 111.91194°WWebsite www.neumont.edu 
Neumont University main campus.
Neumont University was founded in 2003 by Graham Doxey, Scott McKinley, and Marlow Einelund. It is headquartered in South Jordan, Utah. Neumont's South Jordan campus is located in what has been labeled Utah's Silicon Slopes s between other technology-oriented companies like Ibahn, eBay, Oracle, and Adobe.
Neumont offers an applied four-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree and programs in Bachelor of Science in Technology Management, BS Software and Game Development, and a BS Web Design and Development. Most students complete these undergraduate programs in two and one-half years and a Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree in one- and two-year formats. Neumont's Game Development program can be completed in three years and is a hybrid program focusing on principles of software development for the gaming industry.
Contents
History
Neumont University was founded in June 2002 as North Face Learning by Graham Doxey, Marlow Einelund, and Scott McKinley. North Face Learning was approved by the Department of Education in a letter dated March 19, 2003, to take operating control of Morrison University in Reno, NV and became Northface University. In a letter dated May 22, 2003, Northface University was approved by the ACICS to open a new branch in Utah and to offer a new program in Computer Science. IBM, Microsoft, and Unisys collaborated with the school in the earliest stages to create a project-based curriculum. Since October 2005, many other local and national companies such as EDS, ACS, Novell, CA, eBay, ExtendHealth, Medicity, Nike and Oracle Corporation have joined with IBM and Microsoft in sponsoring Enterprise Projects that facilitate learning in a real-world project focused environment.[1] Neumont University students were also heavily involved in the PhPGedView Developmental Project over a number of years, under direction of Neumont senior faculty John Finlay; and the Neumont Object Role Modeling project under instructors Terry Halpin and Tony Morgan.
The first campus was opened to students in Salt Lake City in January 2004. Later that year, Neumont University relocated to a 48,000-square-foot (4,500 m2) campus (located across two floors of an office building) which features glass, steel, and granite, nestled against the west bank of the Jordan River. The campus features high-tech lecture halls, project rooms, a digital design lab, library, student commons, and a wireless internet network across the entire campus.
The ACICS approved a name change on July 22, 2005 by letter. Northface University changed its name to Neumont University after concerns of confusion with North Face, the clothing manufacturer.
Neumont's first graduates completed Neumont's undergraduate computer science program in March 2006. Since then, more than 380 people have completed degrees from Neumont and gone on to begin careers in software and web development, business analysis, project management, and IT consulting. Based on verified offers extended to graduates, Neumont is able to claim its graduates earn an average starting salary up to 15% higher than the national average, accepting job offers averaging $60,000 and enjoying 93% placement within six months of graduation.[2] This success in student placement has garnered national attention for Neumont from Forbes Magazine,[3] CNN,[4] CNBC,[5] MSNBC,[6] Fox Business News,[7] and The Chronicle of Higher Education.[8]
From July through September 2007, Neumont briefly expanded to Virginia for one academic quarter.[9] The campus encountered zoning problems; as a result, the students were relocated to the South Jordan campus, and the Northern Virginia campus was closed.
In September 2007, after five years of service to Neumont University, an announcement was made that president Graham Doxey would be resigning to be replaced by Edward H. Levine.[10] Under President Levine's management the school launched a degree in Business Technology Operations Management and expanded its curriculum to encompass courses in electronic media and entertainment, including courses in game design and development.
In 2009, Neumont received approval to begin offering undergraduate degrees in Software and Game Development,[11] and Web Design and Development.[12]
Academics
Due to the rigorous nature of the program, students can graduate from Neumont in as little as two and a half years, with a full Bachelor's degree by attending classes five days per week, up to nine hours per day. Neumont's Bachelor of Science in Software and Game Development is a rigorous hybrid program which takes three years to complete.[13]
Due to the rigorous curriculum and quick time to market for Neumont graduates, the school claims to be one of the best values in computer science education and was recognized in May 2010 by The Chronicle of Higher Education for "setting the standard in US Higher Education".
Neumont also claims to have an exceptionally high return on investment for graduates, based on the compressed 2.5 year format, and the availability of need and merit-based scholarships.
Neumont courses are taught in a block format which divides the program into 10, ten-week quarters. Each quarter is divided into two 25-day blocks. Students take courses in three and four hour segments, with general education courses taught daily in one and two hour increments. Neumont University's block schedule was devised based on a theory that more time in classes, with greater focus on fewer subjects at a time would allow for greater depth in program delivery.
Campus features
- A Digital Design lab for students featuring studio quality lighting, sound, recording, and editing equipment for the creation of video, web, and game design projects.
- Halpin Innovation Lab which features manipulatable work spaces and flatscreen televisions where students can code in groups of four to six during the mid-point of their program (developmental project labs).
- Enterprise Project rooms are designated real estate that Neumont project teams are given for one quarter to use as the home base for their project work. Many students work on their Enterprise Projects on-site at the client.
- A campus library which features hundreds of technical references manuals, technical magazines, and copies of in class materials.
- Student commons with foosball, ping pong, pool, arcade games, and on-campus dining.
- A Gaming Chamber complete with 60" TV's, a collection of legacy and newly released gaming consoles, and an encyclopedic collection of video games from Atari to Kinect.
- Student Housing where students are roomed up to four per apartment within one mile of the Neumont campus
Accreditation
The university is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.[14]
Faculty
- Terry Halpin, leader of the NORMA project, was also a member of the faculty until early 2009. After his departure, a lab room on campus was named after him, and his whiteboard was memorialized.
- Among Neumont's faculty has been Bennion Spencer, who ran in 2008 as a Democrat for Utah's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
- Steve Halladay, an industry-respected software development professional and entrepreneur with dozens of patents and publications to his credit.
- John Kilbourn, director of Neumont's Digital design program, with 20 years of industry experience in video games as an art director and production artist.
- John Finlay, founder of the PhpGedView project.
- Dr. Steve Allison, PhD, faculty development coordinator
- Jamie King, specializing in .NET, Databases, and C#
- Aaron Pace, co-author Spilling: Expanding Hand held Interaction to Touch Table Displays, TABLETOP, pp. 163–170, 2007
- Sharon DeReamer, teaching courses in Object-Oriented Programming, Software Engineering Methodologies, and Project Management. Author: ACM Sigsoft Software Engineering Notes.
- Shawn Loutensock, Career Services Program Manager
- Aaron Reed, vice president of University Relations and author of Learning XNA 3.0 and Learning XNA 4.0[15]" O'Reilly Media.
- Jake Walkenhorst, instructor in Java Development, .Net, Object-Oriented Programming, and Algorithms and Data Structures
- Natalie Watts, teaching introductory level courses in computer science and databases
- Tyler Young teaching .NET Projects, XNA, and Windows Development courses
- Matt Maxwell, Artist in Residence, Industry Advisory Board member for the BSWD program. Maxwell brings experience working with[16]], Richter7, and the LDS Church.
- Sam Puich, Provost responsible for curriculum oversight and development. Publications Include: CSTA: CS Employees wanted, 2009, College Connection 2008. Jordan Press: Data Mining as an Element of Adaptive Learning, ADO.Net with C# (2002), Object Oriented Programming Using C#: Transitioning from Java (2001), The Technology Teacher: Classroom Management: Principles and Practice (2001), Achieving Technological Literacy: A National Imperative (2001), Assessment: Principles and Practice (2001),
Neumont University Adjunct Faculty Include:
- Brian Acord, M.B.A., University of Virginia
- Denise Allen, M.A. Musicology, George Washington University
- Penny Allison, M.S., Western Governor’s University
- Kristen Allen, B.A. English, Westminster College
- Scott Anderson,Ph.D., Communication Studies, University of Texas at Austin
- Michael Blakesley, M.A. English, Utah State University
- Clief Castleton, M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah
- Tim Cranny,Ph.D. Mathematics, University of Queensland
- Alicia Cunningham, J.D. George Mason School of Law
- Lori Draper, Neumont's Learning Center Director, M.A. Information Resources and Library Science,University of Arizona
- Tyler Garlick, B.S. Computer Science, Neumont University
- Raeann Hansen,B.S. Education, Iowa State University
- Jeff Hodlmair, B.S. Finance, Westminster College
- Dr. Jennifer Hill, Ph.D. Communications, University of Utah
- Jeremy Israelsen,B.S. Computer Science, Neumont University
- Dr. Renate Kesler, Ph.D. Music, University of Utah
- John Kilbourn, B.A. Fine Arts, University of Utah
- Dr. Kimberly Lawson, Ph.D. English, University of Iowa
- Rob Lange, M.B.A. Business, Brigham Young University
- Danny Martinez, M.P.A. Public Administration, University of Utah
- Rock Oakeson, M.A., Music, University of North Texas
- Paul Parkin, M.S. Communications, California State University
- Joshua Peterson, M.S. Speech Communication, Minnesota State University
- Gerald Pay, B.S. Microbiology, Brigham Young University
- Miriam Robertson, M.A. Teaching, Grand Canyon University
- Michelle Swift, J.D. Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Cameron Tovey, B.S. MIS, Brigham Young University
- Aaron Walker, B.S. Computer Science, Utah Valley University
- Casey Williams, M.F.A Theatre, University of Utah
Neumont University Administration
- Edward H. Levine, Neumont University President, CEO
- Thomas Bickart, Chief Financial Officer
- Aaron Reed, Vice President Academic Operations
- Samuel Puich, Provost
- Isabella Porter, Vice President, Marketing
- Erin McCormack, Dean of Students
- Dave Conger, Director of Technology Services
- Stacy Hughes, Director of Public Relations
- Karick Heaton, Director of Admissions
- L. Jeme Deviny, Director of Finance
- Larry Crandall, Registrar
- Shawn Loutensock, Career Services Program Manager
Clubs
Neumont's student life tends to revolve around technology[17] but also offers traditional student clubs and activities including:
- Unified Student Government
- Book Club
- LDSSA
- Bible Club
- Soccer Club
- Neumont Tactical Federation
- Student Clubs and actitivities are posted online through Neumont's Facebook page, blog, and website
Orders
Neumont offers student orders, which are similar to fraternities or sororities in that they organize around a central theme of community, civic responsibility, and social leisure. Unlike traditional fraternities or sororities, Neumont's student orders are Co-ed.
BTS - Beyond The Screen TGG - The Game Gurus GSO - Game Shark Order GC - The Gentle Men's Club RO - The Rootbeer Order PR - Prime
Events
- Pi Day
- Pre-Finals Breakfast
- Coding Competition
- Campus Open Houses
- Commencement
- Project Showcase
- League of Legends Tournaments
Neumont also offers a host of nerd-centric events like[18]: LAN Parties, Nerfkriegs, Nerdigras, and Nerdapalooza
References
- ^ Enterprise Projects Neumont University. Retrieved 2008-02-22
- ^ Neumont Salaries and Ranges Data
- ^ http://www.neumont.edu/cmsdocuments/Forbes.pdf
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/neumontuniversity#p/f/2/YuaMhJNBE4Y
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/neumontuniversity#p/f/6/7OzTotzo9ME
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/neumontuniversity#p/f/0/t1DRzzGABec
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/neumontuniversity#p/f/5/7KAfbGbkNyc
- ^ http://www.neumont.edu/cmsdocuments/Chronicle_of_Higher_Education_May_2010.pdf
- ^ No Ivy Covered Malls for the Time Being. Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ^ Edward Levine: ZoomInfo Business People Information
- ^ http://www.neumont.edu/programs/game_development.html
- ^ http://www.neumont.edu/programs/web_development.html
- ^ Neumont's Programs
- ^ Neumont University (October 3, 2006). Neumont University Sets Innovative Standard in U.S. Higher Education. Press release. Retrieved on October 13, 2006.
- ^ Learning XNA 4.0
- ^ http://www.nitrocircus.com
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/15/business/fi-geeks15
- ^ Neumont University (October 3, 2006). nerdlanding.com
External links
- Official site of Neumont University
- Official site of Neumont University Web Forums
- Interview with Julie Blake of Neumont University (via techrockies.com)
- Neumont University featured in Forbes Magazine
- Neumont Project experience student video (promotional but descriptive)
- Neumont campus blog - lists current happenings and job opportunities at the school
- Neumont PhpGedView Project
- Neumont Object Role Modeling Project
Categories:- Universities and colleges in Utah
- Educational institutions established in 2003
- Universities and colleges in Salt Lake County, Utah
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