Boise State launches School of Computing to shape Idaho’s technological future

Boise State University has launched its eighth school, the School of Computing, to provide Idaho with the highly skilled, computing-savvy workforce necessary to drive the state’s competitiveness, innovation and economic growth. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the school will align computing efforts university-wide to offer degree and training programs to enhance computing knowledge for students of all backgrounds and disciplines.

The school is guided by a vision built upon three foundational pillars: fundamental computing, computing in the disciplines and computing in society. The school seeks to grow Boise State into a national leader in computing education and research.

The School of Computing will:

• Supply Idaho’s booming economy with a diverse pool of computing-savvy talent spanning health care, education, engineering, the sciences and business;
• Fuel innovation and drive economic growth by integrating  computing talent into Idaho’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
• Foster community for faculty, students and industry in interdisciplinary activities around computing, cyber security, data science and artificial intelligence; and,
• Position Idaho at the leading edge of advancements in computing education, computing research, interdisciplinary applications of computing and the societal and policy impacts of computing.

Leadership and Partnership

Ira Burton, who brings a wealth of industry experience having worked at Micron Technology for 28 years, was appointed as the school’s inaugural director.

Burton will lead the School of Computing to serve as a powerful hub to empower continued collaboration, support new opportunities and partnerships across disciplines, and engage with internal and external partners as a point of entry to advance computed-related research, training, and awareness.

The School of Computing represents a bold step forward for the university. Boise State is uniquely positioned in the Intermountain West to supercharge computing across the university by uniting efforts to drive innovation, collaboration and excellence impacting Idaho and the region.

“As the state’s largest computer science program, Boise State has strong, longstanding partnerships with industry leaders in computing and microelectronics,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter. “The launch of the School of Computing will allow us to deepen industry relationships and foster the innovative, interdisciplinary approaches our faculty are known for in their research. The school positions us to offer new opportunities for students, researchers and industry partners for years to come.”

These initiatives align directly with Boise State’s strategic plan, supporting goals which enhance educational access, foster student and faculty success, and drive research activity.

“The launch of the School of Computing comes at an opportune time in the Boise State history of computer science and computing,” said Dean of the College of Engineering JoAnn S. Lighty. “Given the nature of technological advancement, computing is needed in every discipline, and the school, with its three pillars, will enable Boise State to meet the educational and research needs of the future.”

Lighty credited Tim Andersen, Department of Computer Science; Jodi Mead, Department of Mathematics; and Rich Stuppy, formerly of Kount; as the catalysts who brought the idea for the school together, provided the framework, and advocated for approval from the Idaho State Board of Education.

Tim Andersen said of designing the framework for the School of Computing: “Beyond the roles typically associated with computing, such as programmers, software developers, and web developers, Idaho companies need a wide range of computing-savvy talent. This includes professionals in sales, marketing, customer support, artistic and design fields, and even executive leadership. Our goal in creating the School of Computing was to collaborate across academic disciplines and organizations to provide educational opportunities that equip every Boise State student—regardless of their major—with essential computing skills. This ensures we can help produce the diverse talent Idaho companies need to stay competitive, thrive and grow.”

A University-Wide Effort

The School of Computing will serve as an umbrella for the entire university, embedding computational education, power, literacy and evolving technologies throughout academic experiences.

Unlike a traditional academic department, the School of Computing transcends college boundaries, bringing together faculty across 14 departments within the Colleges of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, Health Sciences, and Innovation and Design, as well as the School of Public Service who are active in computing education and research.

Through this interdisciplinary approach, Boise State will serve as an institution that better understands how the world is fundamentally shaped by technology and its reliance on advancements in computation. As the school works to deepen the core understanding of computation, its capacities, and the impact of computation across disciplines and beyond, the school is also working to understand the impact these innovations have on society, the economy and the environment.

By understanding the societal impacts that computing can have, Boise State will better understand how computing technologies can be designed and utilized to maximize benefits for individuals and across society as a whole.

Building On Excellence

The School of Computing builds upon Boise State’s long-standing reputation for achievements and diverse expertise across all university colleges, including:

• The Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity
• The School for the Digital Future
• The PhD Program in Computing
• The Generative Artificial Intelligence Initiative
• A range of undergraduate and graduate certificates in Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Computational Science and Engineering

Valuing all three pillars and the diverse, world-class expertise strengthens the Boise State community where students, faculty and industry partners collaborate to build a better future shaped by thoughtful and responsible technological advancement.