Sheridan College to offer software degree

Sheridan College to offer software degree
 
SHERIDAN (WNE) — After nearly one year of collaboration with Cardiff University, the University of Wyoming and other community colleges across the state, Northern Wyoming Community College District will soon offer an associate degree in software development.
Mark Thoney, an NWCCD instructor in computer science, has led the effort locally. He said the idea for the program began when UW President Ed Seidel asked computer science faculty from the university and community colleges to develop a program based on the model from Cardiff University, located in Wales.
According to UW officials, the online program will help UW and community colleges accomplish their objective of preparing Wyoming residents to participate in the 21st century workforce and diversify the state’s economy.
“In many respects, the economies of Wales and Wyoming have much in common, including a historical reliance on natural resources production and tourism,” Seidel said in a press release earlier this year. “Cardiff University’s software engineering program, part of an effort to help diversify Wales’ economy, is considered internationally to be particularly innovative and effective. We’re excited about the prospect of helping bring it to the people of Wyoming.”
NWCCD’s computer science faculty has submitted all the necessary paperwork to begin offering the degree option in fall 2022, but is awaiting final approval from the Wyoming Community College Commission and other entities.
The program is part of the Wyoming Innovation Partnership, an initiative unveiled in January 2021 that is a collaboration between UW and the state’s community colleges. The goal is to diversify the state’s workforce and attract new businesses to the area.