Planning for a new academic initiative in the information sciences was introduced in 1997, and the School of Information Sciences and Technology was approved by Penn State's Board of Trustees soon after on September 11, 1998.
The school opened its doors at Penn State's University Park campus on August 25, 1999, to 105 students and five full-time faculty members, who led 43 new courses. In total, 428 students enrolled in IST programs at 19 Penn State campuses across the state.
Today, the college is recognized as a leader in interdisciplinary education and research at the intersection of information, technology, and society.
Creating a Discipline
The school was created based on a need perceived by the University and advisers from government and industry to educate students in the emerging field of information sciences and technology. The goal was to extend beyond classic computer science, management information systems, and library science—programs that existed in various formats across higher education.
This new multidisciplinary approach would prepare students to meet challenges in the use of computers, networked systems, and other technologies for applications in fields such as business, health care, homeland security, finance, energy, environmental monitoring, and entertainment.
The school was charged with producing graduates who would have the technical knowledge of information technologies—such as computer programming, discrete mathematics, and database concepts—and an understanding of information system concepts. An emphasis was also placed on building strong communication skills and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach. Ultimately, these graduates would understand how information technologies could be applied to real applications involving individuals, organizations, and national and global enterprises.
Becoming a College
In 2000, IST offered its first online course and built a robust offering of online programs and courses in the following years. In the spring of 2003, IST awarded its first bachelor’s degrees to 300 graduates from across the state. That first group of alumni quickly formed the IST Alumni Society, ensuring that IST graduates would always remain connected to each other and to the school.
Recognizing its impact on the University and leadership in the information school community, the school was renamed as the College of Information Sciences and Technology in 2006.
Since those early years, the college has stayed true to its founding mission while evolving to meet the rapidly changing needs of students and industry. Today, IST educates thousands of students in a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, both in residence and online. Faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars conduct millions of dollars of externally funded research, collaborating across traditional disciplines to uncover new insights, trends, and experiences.
Building a Home
Formally opened in 2004 as the Information Sciences and Technology Building, the Westgate Building at Penn State University Park is a striking 199,000 square-foot structure whose sweeping lines stir the imagination of passersby. Its creators–Rafael Vinoly Architects, New York, and Perfido Weiskopf Architects, Pittsburgh—were inspired by the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
Classroom spaces use a state-of-the-art telecommunications and multimedia infrastructure to meet the unique needs of today’s digital students. Each classroom has been individually configured to enhance different types of learning experiences. The principal learning space is the Cybertorium, a 155-seat theater-style classroom that employs the latest technology to facilitate group learning and discussion.
Innovative technology also is instrumental in the college’s research facilities, such as in the three-dimensional, full-immersion, visualization laboratory, where researchers are studying new ways to view and conceptualize data and information.
To encourage collaboration, there are a number of open gathering spaces designed for faculty, staff, and students to meet. The entire building features wireless capabilities that encourage groups to move freely within the space while being connected to the Internet and other web-based services.
Recognizing Campus Partners
Campus faculty are foundational to the College of IST and its success. From its earliest days, the college has relied on its colleagues across the state to teach courses across campuses and through the Digital Learning Cooperative. They have also developed residential and online curricula, sat on course committees, and advised students. The College of IST would not be where it is today without the dedication, collaboration, and expertise of these campus faculty.