Felician launched its new Institute for Information Sciences Thursday, February 6 on the Rutherford Campus at Ray’s Place.

Dr. Prisco speaking at the Institute for Informational Sciences Launch

The Institute will offer cutting-edge curriculum in Computer Science and Cybersecurity. The Institute’s Director, Felician VP for Technology, Design and Innovation, Dr. Robert Clougherty said the Institute will offer students more than computer science as a discipline where they type code saying, “They will learn how to comprehend the whole world that is technologically driven.” And while the Institute’s students will gain competitive skills, Dr. Clougherty pointed out to those who turned out for the Institute’s launch that, “It’s not going to mean just competitive skills, but lifelong skills, because to us, our value is really developing the whole person.”

President Dr. Anne Prisco said the Institute will give students the opportunity from the very first semester to be “Engaged in and understand in real world learning the latest technologies that will equip them to deal with whatever new technologies they will face in the future.”

Dr. Clougherty says the Institute will sponsor monthly seminars designed for professional development that will, “Engage questions on information – how it is created, processed, and conveyed.”

The series is called the Ockham Lectures, named after William of Ockam, a 14th Century Franciscan Friar who studied logic. Dr. Clougherty used humor throughout the launch referring to William of Ockam as “Billy” when he presented the first lecture in the series: Summa Cybernetica: Machines, Meaning, and Metaphor. To view the entire lecture click here.
The lecture series will be held Thursdays at 6 pm at Ray’s Place.

# # #

About Felician University

Felician University engages over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult students through programs in Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. Universal Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University’s education is ranked 3rd best return on investment for private colleges in New Jersey 2018 by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and is ranked #1 safest college campus in the state by niche.com.