WELCOME! Welcome to the all new and improved ISQA website. The site's navigation has been improved and the content has been made more accessible. We hope this updated look and feel will help you find the information you need quickly.

GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENT CAPSTONE PROJECT The second Spring 2012 MS in MIS Capstone group at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, was tasked to build a prototype tool that an investor could employ to assist them in choosing the optimized combination of option contract trades which would provide an optimum return on investment. Designed to use available open programming interfaces from many major brokerage firms, the team developed a web-based, analytical tool that will choose the optimal option contracts to purchase. This puts enormous power into an investors hands. The set of tools will allow a customer to interact with their brokerage accounts, and choose various investment strategies that conform to their individual investment styles. Through a direct connection from the analysis tool, clients are able to purchase all option contracts directly from their brokerage account. Additionally, clients are able to leverage their history on future investments. [May 6, 2012]

GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENT CAPSTONE PROJECT TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL. The Spring 2012 MS in MIS Capstone group under the name Team UniteDVCC was commissioned to develop a data collection and reporting system for Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC). This system allowed for input of various aggregate statistical data from the partners of DVCC. It further provided DVCC the ability to summarize this data for reporting purposes as needed in the grant application process as well as for use by DVCC in their daily operations and performance improvement initiatives.The completed application-the UniteDVCC System-provides a web-based interface for partner agencies to enter their respective reporting data for use by DVCC. This Capstone class comprised of fifteen students who made up the UniteDVCC team. The UniteDVCC system will help the DVCC fight Domestic Violence in the Omaha Area through the power of data analysis, making our community a safer place to live. [May 4, 2012]

DR. ZIGURS HONORED WITH CCSW AWARD The UNO Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women (CCSW) has selected Dr. Ilze Zigurs as the winner of this year’s CCSW Outstanding Achievement Award. The selection committee made their decision based on her significant contributions toward addressing and improving the status of women and gender issues at UNO in their academic work or activities. Dr. Zigurs was presented with this award on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (Click the picture at left for a larger version.) The ISQA department congratulates our Chair, Dr. Zigurs, on this well-deserved award! [April 12, 2012]

NEW FACULTY MEMBERS TO JOIN ISQA IN FALL 2012 ISQA is excited to announce that two new faculty members will join the department starting in the fall semester. So please join us in welcoming Michelle Carter and Matt Germonprez. [February 3, 2012]

Michelle Carter’s research focuses on individuals' interactions with information technologies (IT) in their work and personal lives. To that end, she has investigated three topics: (1) technology assimilation; (2) IT management; and (3) online consumer decision making. Her current research, which conceptualizes IT as an important source of individuals’ personal identities, grows out of these research streams. Before coming to the USA, Michelle worked as database architect and technical team leader for a UK government sponsored enterprise system implementation.

Matt Germonprez’s research examines how emerging and open technologies are designed, developed, and used both individually and organizationally. Currently, he is working on a National Science Foundation funded project to understand why and how organizations participate with the Linux open community.

ISQA OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES ISQA now offers two undergraduate certificates on the subjects of Data Management and systems development. The goal of these certificates is to provide non-traditional and traditional students an opportunity to take a focused set of undergraduate courses and earn a certificate of completion. Should a student decide to pursue a degree after starting or completing the certificate program, all credits taken for a certificate can be applied towards the completion of an undergraduate degree in the college. You can find out more about these certificates at the ISQA Undergraduate Certificates page. [November 15, 2011]

GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENT CAPSTONE PROJECT TO FAMILY, INC. The fall 2011 Capstone Course Team at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, was tasked with developing a data tracking system for the nonprofit organization, Family Inc. The final version of this system was delivered on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. Check out the Capstone Project Page for more information and pictures. [December 20, 2011]

COURSE NUMBER CHANGE As of the Spring 2012 semester, CIST 3100 - Organizations, Applications & Technology has been renumbered as CIST 2100. [November 15, 2011]

UNO NAMED FINALIST FOR SERVICE AWARD The University of Nebraska at Omaha was nominated as a finalist in the General Community Service category for the the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. This selection is recognition from the highest levels of the federal government of UNO's commitment to service and civic engagement.

The ISQA department has long contributed to UNO's service learning activities, through projects such as the undergraduate systems development capstone projects, the computer skills teaching project at the Douglas County Department of Corrections, the graduate capstone course, and the Information Technology for Development program which provides IT counseling for local microenterprises. [May 16, 2011]

ISQA CELEBRATES GOOD NEWS The ISQA faculty knows how to celebrate good news. At a recent faculty gathering a custom cake (shown left) was key to celebrating the UDTA award. At the final ISQA faculty meeting, the department celebrated Dr. Greiner's impending family expansion with (obviously!) more cake! [May 7, 2011]

ISQA HONORED WITH UNIVERSITY-WIDE DEPARTMENTAL TEACHING AWARD The ISQA department has been awarded the University of Nebraska 2011 University-Wide Departmental Teaching Award. University President, Dr. James Milliken mentions that the ISQA department "has distinguished itself through excellence in a wide range of accomplishments and initiatives. It demonstrates commitment to the finest in teaching, as well as a commitment to serving the Omaha community, the state of Nebraska, and the profession. Members of the department have shown exceptional dedication to the education of students by successfully incorporating new technologies into the curriculum and providing students with extensive opportunities for valuable training and hands-on experience." The award was presented to the department by University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken at a ceremony at the Scott Conference Center on Friday, April 1. [April 4, 2011]

A short video highlighting ISQA's accomplishments can be found here.

ISQA FACULTY HONORED FOR SERVICE-LEARNING EFFORTS ISQA faculty members Dr. Sajda Qureshi and Dr. Peter Wolcott have been awarded the UNO 2011 Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award. Dr. Qureshi and Dr. Wolcott are being recognized for their work with micro-businesses in the community and for their scholarly work on IT for Development. [February 23, 2011]

MISSO HONORED MISSO, the MIS Student Organization was recently honored with a certificate for “Outstanding Communications” as part of the 2010 Association for Information Systems (AIS) student chapter awards. The certificate will be presented at the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) awards luncheon on Tuesday, December 14th at 12:15 pm, St Louis, USA. [November 17, 2010]

ISQA CELEBRATES ABET ACCREDITATION This fall ISQA's undergraduate program was re-accredited by ABET. To celebrate, ISQA faculy gathered at the home of Dr. Ilze Zigurs. The centerpiece of this celebration was undoubtedly the chocolate cake created by Mara Zigurs. Atop this cake you can see Dr. Peter Wolcott, who has successfully led the accreditation efforts for the department. [September 20, 2010]

ISQA E-LEARNING SITE The ISQA department has steadily been working on its online offerings. All information about these programs and options is now available on the ISQA e-Learning website.

NEW DUAL DEGREE MPA/MS MIS AVAILABLE AT UNO The College of IS&T and the School of Public Administration at UNO are partnering to offer a dual-degree program in which students can earn an MPA degree and a Masters Degree in MIS in just 54 to 57 credit hours. The program is designed for dedicated students who are willing to take on the challenges related to graduate education from two perspectives that are integrated together -- Public Administration and Management Information Systems. For details, visit the Joint Degree Page.

NEW GRADUATE CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE AT UNO The College of IS&T at the Peter Kiewit Institute at UNO now offers graduate certificates in the areas of information assurance, project management, and systems analysis & design. The goal of the graduate certificates is to allow post-baccalaureate students and working professionals to expand their educational background and complete course work that could count towards a graduate degree in MIS. Each certificate consists of 12 credit hours of courses. For details, visit the Graduate Certificates Page.

NEW DUAL DEGREE MBA/MS MIS AVAILABLE AT UNO The College of IS&T and the College of Business Administration at UNO are partnering to offer a dual-degree program in which students can earn an MBA degree and a Masters Degree in MIS in just 54 credit hours. The program is designed for dedicated students who are willing to take on the challenges related to graduate education from two perspectives that are integrated together -- Business Administration and Management Information Systems. For details, visit the Joint Degree Page.

UNO HONORS PROGRAM Undergraduate students interested in pursuing the UNO Honors Program are invited to check out their options at the Honors Program Website. Program benefits and requirements are specificied here in great detail.

ABET ACCREDITATION The ISQA undergraduate Information Systems program is now one of only a handful of programs in the world that is accredited by ABET, an international accreditation organization for engineering and technology www.abet.org.

CODES OF CONDUCT The ISQA faculty has recently approved a Student Code of Conduct (PDF File) and a Faculty Code of Conduct (PDF File).

INTEGRATED UNDERGRADUATE/GRADUATE TRACK ISQA is pleased to offer a new Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Track which allows dedicated students to complete the BS in MIS undergraduate degree and the MS in MIS graduate degree in five years.

NORWAY EXCHANGE PROGRAM ISQA undergraduate and graduate students can now attend a semester overseas in wonderful Southern Norway!!! UNO and Agder University College, Kristiansand, Norway have signed an exchange agreement to allow students working towards a MIS degree or interested in a MIS minor, or MIS area of concentration to take a semester of their course work in Norway. For more information click see this web page or please contact Dr. Deepak Khazanchi or Stephanie Cannon.

ISQA Chair: Dr. Ilze Zigurs - izigurs@unomaha.edu.

Undergraduate Advising: Farida Majid - fmajid@unomaha.edu.

Graduate Advising: Carla Frakes - cfrakes@unomaha.edu.

IQSA Website Maintenance: Dr. Paul van Vliet - pvvliet@unomaha.edu.

Information Systems & Quantitative Analysis
College of Information Science and Technology
The Peter Kiewit Institute
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE 68182-0392

Phone: (402) 554-3770 Fax: (402) 554-3400

This page was last updated on May 6, 2012.