University of Advancing Technology
Encyclopedia
University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is a private, family owned institution of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...

 located in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...

. Founded in 1983, UAT is a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 with multiple areas of study in technical fields, while retaining liberal arts requirements in the Fine Arts and Humanities. Sometimes misunderstood to be a vocational school due to the history of their offerings in a vocational context, UAT purports a general education comparable to typical universities such as Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...

, with specific emphasis on how its specialized mission integrates technology into its general education requirements. The institution offers unique core classes (e.g., Information Research Strategies, Technology and Society, Project Management, Intellectual Property Law), as well as all traditional ones.

An independent institution, UAT's mission is to educate students in advancing technology who innovate for our future. The university's vision is to advance global society by developing premier thinkers for a lifetime of innovation. Students learn how technology has evolved so that they may participate in its evolution.

UAT offers Associate's
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...

, Bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

 and Master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

 degrees, on campus and online. The school has an enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. UAT also participates in a student exchange with DeMontfort University, UK.

History

Founded in 1983, the University of Advancing Technology was first known as CAD Institute, a small school focused on training engineers and architects in a completely new field of computer-aided design
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...

. Students came to CAD Institute seeking professional development training and certifications. The institution received accreditation in 1987 by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACECT) at the diploma and occupational associate’s level.

In 1992, CAD Institute founded an initial research center, the Computer Reality Center. The center primarily performed research for the computer graphics industry, with specific emphasis on the field of virtual reality. The Institute also shifted to a new accrediting agency, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is a non-profit education corporation recognized by both the United States Secretary of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation as an independent and autonomous national accrediting body that accredits institutions of...

 (ACICS), which certified it as a college.

In 1996, CAD Institute was accredited as a four-year institution. That same year, the Institute began offering educational programs outside the CAD focus. In order to reflect the broad technology focus of students within the institution, the CAD name was retired in 1997; the institution was renamed the University of Advancing Computer Technology (UACT).

Associated with a growth in programs and the student body, the institution designed and built a technology-oriented 50000 square feet (4,645.2 m²) campus in 1998 in Tempe, Arizona. The building features classrooms, computer labs and computing commons outfitted with approximately 300 computer workstations and an extensive technology infrastructure. Also in 1998, UACT received approval from ACICS to offer a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...

 in Technology degree. In 2000, it received approval to offer online courses.

The institution made another incremental change in its name in 2002, when it became the University of Advancing Technology (UAT) to recognize that computer technology had evolved beyond the personal computer to encompass all devices that communicate, manage information, and provide connections through all media, including the Internet. In 2003, UAT offered its first online Bachelor's degree in Game Design.

In the fall of 2007, housing facilities for 260 students were opened on campus. That same year, UAT became a candidate with The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Higher Learning Commission oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and universities in nineteen Midwestern and South-Central states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa,...

 and an affiliate of the North Central Association. In recognition of the quality of its Network Security program, the University was also designated a Center of Academic Excellence by the National Centers of Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE) sponsored by the U.S. National Security Agency and the Homeland Security Department.

As of 2009, UAT is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

Accreditations, authorizations and approvals

UAT is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Higher Learning Commission oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and universities in nineteen Midwestern and South-Central states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa,...

 and a member of the North Central Association to award diplomas, associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. The school's programs do not have ABET or ATMAE accreditation.

UAT was designated a Center of Academic Excellence by the National Centers of Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE) sponsored by the U.S. National Security Agency and the Homeland Security Department.

Network Security programs certified by the US National Security Agency's Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation program for 4011 CNSS
Committee on National Security Systems
The Committee on National Security Systems is a United States intergovernmental organization that sets policy for the security of the US security systems.-Charter, mission, and leadership:...

 National Standard for Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals and 4013 National Standard for System Administrators in Information Systems Security
(INFOSEC).

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Master of Science

Visiting Professors

  • Dr. William Simpson
  • John Smart (President, Accelerating Studies Foundation)
  • Mauro Palatucci (ISIA Rome – Fall 2011)

Scholarships

UAT offers scholarships in the following areas:
  • Academic Scholarships
  • Application Scholarships

Student trips

Throughout the year, UAT coordinates and subsidizes student trips to the technology industry's top conferences, fun excursions and industry tours. All Student Trips are chaperoned by UAT staff and faculty members. Students get first-hand experience with two very important aspects of life in any profession by attending industry-trade shows and exhibitions and academic conferences.

Recent trips:
  • Japan (2009)
  • China (2010)
  • Italy (planned for 2012)
  • Defcon
    DEF CON
    DEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...

  • Black Hat Briefings
    Black Hat Briefings
    The Black Hat Conference is a computer security conference that brings together a variety of people interested in information security. Representatives of federal agencies and corporations attend along with hackers. The Briefings take place regularly in Las Vegas, Barcelona and Tokyo...

  • Game Developers Conference
    Game Developers Conference
    The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...

     (GDC)
  • SIGGRAPH
    SIGGRAPH
    SIGGRAPH is the name of the annual conference on computer graphics convened by the ACM SIGGRAPH organization. The first SIGGRAPH conference was in 1974. The conference is attended by tens of thousands of computer professionals...

  • Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)

Student government

Mission Statement: The UAT Student Government is to be a voice of the student body for the betterment of the student experience.

The UAT Student Government (USG) will provide the students of The University of Advancing Technology a gathering, a voice, and an identity, setting traditions within the university. The Student Government has a duty to act for the students in their interest, as a liaison organization to the University; and in acting as such the Student Government will work to represent the needs of the students as a whole. The Student Government will have direct impact on major policy issues and in initiating and recommending changes to meet student needs and wishes. The Student Government will be responsible for communicating with students on issues of interest, coordinating student organization formation, support for collecting student input into University processes, provide student awareness, and maintaining continuity within the Student Government.

Student clubs

  • Anime Club
  • [BUFFEROverflow]
  • Root the Box
  • Fencing
  • LAN Committee
  • NurF WarZ
  • Quarter Circle Forward (QCF)
  • A.P.S. (The Academic Paranormal Society)
  • Spartan Fitness
  • T.C.G.C (Trading Card Game Club)
  • War Games (Warhammer
    Warhammer Fantasy Battle
    Warhammer: The Game of Fantasy Battles is a tabletop wargame created by Games Workshop. It is the origin of the Warhammer Fantasy setting....

    )
  • UDK (Unreal Development Kit Club)
  • Unity (Gay Straight Alliance)

User groups

  • InfraGard
    InfraGard
    InfraGard is a private non-profit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U.S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The organization describes itself as an information sharing and analysis effort serving the interests and combining the knowledge base of a wide...

  • Phoenix Java User Group
    Java User Group
    A Java User Group is a community of users of the Java programming language. Most JUGs are geographically bound, such as the PhillyJUG , JUGChennai , JUGCNoida and the DFJUG ....

  • Phoenix PC User Group
  • Phoenix Cold Fusion Group
  • XUsers Group
  • Phoenix Linux Users Group

Other

UAT hosts an annual technology forum that features guest speakers from emerging technology fields as well as traditional technology fields such as software engineering and programming.

In 2003, a group of students from the UAT Web Club won the Governor's Tourism Award for Web Marketing/Technical Marketing for its work on improving and updating the website for the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum.

On December 28, 2006, a student currently enrolled at UAT was interviewed on All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...

 on National Public Radio, about social technologies.

On February 16, 2007, Dean of Academic Affairs Rebecca Whitehead was interviewed on WoW Things Considered, a World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...

-oriented internet radio show hosted by World of Warcraft Radio. She was interviewed regarding her new college-credit Leadership course at the university, led entirely within the World of Warcraft. The file can be accessed here http://www.wcradio.com/archive/farmstatus/wow-wtc-02-16-2007.mp3.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK