| Neumont University | |
|---|---|
| Established | 2003 |
| President | Edward H. Levine |
| Location | South Jordan, Utah, UT |
| Website | www.neumont.edu |
Neumont University is a for-profit university headquartered in South Jordan, Utah. It was founded in 2003 by Graham Doxey, Scott McKinley, and Marlow Einelund. Neumont's South Jordan campus is located in what has been labeled Utah's Silicon Slopes between other technology-oriented companies like Ibahn, eBay, Oracle, and Adobe.
Neumont offers an applied four-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree and programs in Bachelor of Science in Technology Management, Bachelor of Science in Software and Game Development, and a Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development. Most students complete these undergraduate programs in two and one-half years and a Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree in one- and two-year formats. Neumont's Game Development program can be completed in three years and is a hybrid program focusing on principles of software development for the gaming industry.
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Neumont University was founded in June 2002 as North Face Learning by Graham Doxey, Marlow Einelund, and Scott McKinley. North Face Learning was approved by the Department of Education in a letter dated March 19, 2003, to take operating control of Morrison University in Reno, NV and became Northface University. In a letter dated May 22, 2003, Northface University was approved by the ACICS to open a new branch in Utah and to offer a new program in Computer Science. IBM, Microsoft, and Unisys collaborated with the school in the earliest stages to create a project-based curriculum. Since October 2005, many other local and national companies such as EDS, ACS, Novell, CA, eBay, ExtendHealth, Medicity, Nike, and Oracle Corporation have joined with IBM and Microsoft in sponsoring Enterprise Projects that facilitate learning in a real-world project focused environment.[1] Neumont University students were also heavily involved in the PhPGedView Developmental Project over a number of years, under the direction of Neumont senior faculty John Finlay; and the Neumont Object Role Modeling project under instructors Terry Halpin and Tony Morgan.
The first campus was opened to students in Salt Lake City in January 2004. Later that year, Neumont University relocated to a 48,000-square-foot (4,500 m2) campus (located across two floors of an office building) which features glass, steel, and granite, nestled against the west bank of the Jordan River. The campus features high-tech lecture halls, project rooms, a digital design lab, library, student commons, and a wireless internet network across the entire campus.
The ACICS approved a name change on July 22, 2005 by letter. Northface University changed its name to Neumont University after concerns of confusion with North Face, the clothing manufacturer.
Neumont's first graduates completed Neumont's undergraduate computer science program in March 2006. Since then, more than 380 people have completed degrees from Neumont and gone on to begin careers in software and web development, business analysis, project management, and IT consulting. Based on verified offers extended to graduates, Neumont is able to claim its graduates earn an average starting salary up to 15% higher than the national average, accepting job offers averaging $60,000 and enjoying 93% placement within six months of graduation.[2] This success in student placement has garnered national attention for Neumont from Forbes Magazine,[3] CNN,[4] CNBC,[5] MSNBC,[6] Fox Business News,[7] and The Chronicle of Higher Education.[8]
From July through September 2007, Neumont briefly expanded to Virginia for one academic quarter.[9] The campus encountered zoning problems; as a result, the students were relocated to the South Jordan campus, and the Northern Virginia campus was closed.
Graham Doxey stepped down as Neumont president in 2007, replaced by Edward H. Levine.[10] Under President Levine's management the school launched a degree in Business Technology Operations Management and expanded its curriculum to encompass courses in electronic media and entertainment, including courses in game design and development. Two years later, in 2009, Neumont received approval to begin offering undergraduate degrees in Software and Game Development,[11] and Web Design and Development.[12]
Students can graduate from Neumont in as little as two and a half years with a Bachelor's degree by attending classes five days per week, up to nine hours per day. Neumont's Bachelor of Science in Software and Game Development is a rigorous hybrid program which takes three years to complete.[13]
Neumont claims to have an exceptionally high return on investment for graduates, based on the compressed 2.5 year format, and the availability of need- and merit-based scholarships.[14][15]
Neumont courses are taught in a block format which divides the program into 10, ten-week quarters.[16] Each quarter is divided into two 25-day blocks. Students take courses in three and four hour segments, with general education courses taught daily in one and two hour increments. Neumont University's block schedule was devised based on a theory that more time in classes with greater focus on fewer subjects at a time would allow for greater depth in program delivery.[17]
The university is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.[18]
Neumont's student life tends to revolve around technology[19] but also offers traditional student clubs and activities including:
Neumont offers student orders, which are similar to fraternities or sororities in that they organize around a central theme of community, civic responsibility, and social leisure. Unlike traditional fraternities or sororities, Neumont's student orders are Co-ed.
Neumont also offers a host of nerd-centric events like[20] such as LAN Parties, Nerfkriegs, Nerdigras, and Nerdapalooza.