On Friday September 8th the Operations and Information Management Department (OPIM) held an ice cream social reception to welcome back their students. Management Information System (MIS) and Business Data Analysis (BDA) majors, new and returning alike, gathered in the OPIM department to learn about the resources available to them.
Students were welcomed by Jon Moore, MIS Program Director, who highlighted the opportunities and resources available. During this event was also the official opening of OPIM Innovate, which is an initiative to get emerging technology into the hands of students. Attendees were shown the new innovation space as well as the upgrades to the OPIM research lab. Students moved to different stations where they received their major t-shirt, made ice cream sundaes, and were also encouraged to explore the demonstrations going on in the lab. Faculty and student workers were showing off different technologies found in the lab, including Virtual Reality, 3D printing, and Internet of Things.
Freshman MIS major, He Huang, expressed his excitement to attend workshops on 3D printing in particular as he is intrigued to learn more and gain experience of the process. The OPIM department is frequently bringing new forms of technology to the lab and teaching their students about them during their workshops. Lauren Vanfossan, senior MIS major, spoke about her interest in artificial intelligence as it evolves in society, “it will be interesting to see what the lab shows us about the benefits of artificial intelligence versus the negative aspects heavily expressed by the media”.
Over 80 students attended the event throughout the three-hour period. Many of these students were new to the program and came to learn more about what OPIM can offer them. Overall the reception was a success and many students who visiting the space were excited to take advantage of the departments opportunities in the future.