Featured Stories
Virginia Tech: Expert Explains How Childhood Diets Can Shape Eating Habits Later in Life
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
* * *
Expert explains how childhood diets can shape eating habits later in life
By Carley Thompson
2 Oct 2026
What children eat in their first years of life isn't just about early growth, it's a lifelong blueprint. Virginia Tech nutrition specialist Elena Serrano explains how early flavor exposure shapes adult palates, why breaking early sugar habits requires fewer exposures than parents think, and ways to increase variety.
How early do taste preferences develop?
"Taste preferences begin in infancy," Serrano said.
... Show Full Article
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
* * *
Expert explains how childhood diets can shape eating habits later in life
By Carley Thompson
2 Oct 2026
What children eat in their first years of life isn't just about early growth, it's a lifelong blueprint. Virginia Tech nutrition specialist Elena Serrano explains how early flavor exposure shapes adult palates, why breaking early sugar habits requires fewer exposures than parents think, and ways to increase variety.
How early do taste preferences develop?
"Taste preferences begin in infancy," Serrano said."Offering children a variety of foods and flavors throughout childhood, especially vegetables, helps them become familiar with foods that provide different nutrients. It's natural for children not to like or want to try a new food right away. Sometimes it takes eight to fifteen exposures before a child accepts a new item."
How does early exposure to sugar impact long-term habits?
"Regularly eating sugary foods and drinking sweetened beverages can set a standard for sweetness," Serrano said. "That preference can follow a child into adulthood, making sugary foods more appealing while bitter foods, such as vegetables, may be left out."
What simple swaps can families make to reduce added sugars?
"Sports drinks, fruit drinks and breakfast foods such as cereals and muffins can contain more added sugar than parents realize," Serrano said.
She recommends several easy substitutions for daily meals and snacks
* Rethink drinks: Serve water or milk instead of sweetened drinks. Add watermelon slices in water for a slightly sweeter flavor.
* Swap desserts for fruit: Offer fresh fruit slices, dried fruit without added sugar, or canned fruit packed in water instead of cake or cookies.
* Upgrade breakfast: Serve oatmeal in place of sweetened cereal to reduce added sugar and increase fiber. Oatmeal can also cost less.
What can parents do if a child already prefers sugary foods or drinks?
"Make small, incremental changes," Serrano said. "For example, if your child drinks fruit drinks, slowly decrease the portion you serve or add a little water to it. Over time, you can eliminate the fruit drink and replace it with water or milk."
What is the difference between natural and added sugar?
"Naturally occurring sugars are found in foods such as fresh fruit," Serrano said. "Added sugars are sugars or syrups put into foods and drinks during processing, preparation or before eating. These can include fructose and dextrose."
What is the key takeaway for parents and caregivers?
"The earlier that healthy eating habits are established, the easier the changes are to sustain, Serrano said. Start early."
About Serrano
Elena Serrano is a professor and nutrition specialist in Virginia Tech's Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. Serrano's research focuses on food, nutrition, and health education programs across the lifespan. Her work with Virginia Cooperative Extension has focused on helping families across Virginia eat well, stay active, and access affordable, nutritious food.
Media Availability
To schedule an interview with Serrano about childhood and adult nutrition, contact mediarelations@vt.edu.
* * *
Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/10/expert-childhood-diet-impact-adulthood-.html
UC Welcomes Seven New Engineering Faculty Members
CINCINNATI, Ohio, Oct. 3 -- The University of Cincinnati posted the following news:
* * *
UC welcomes seven new engineering faculty members
Faculty join the College of Engineering and Applied Science in six departments
By Anya Rao, raoa3@ucmail.uc.edu
October 2, 2026
The University of Cincinnati welcomed seven new faculty members to the College of Engineering and Applied Science this fall, bringing expertise in aerospace engineering, computer science, chemical engineering, engineering education, biomedical engineering, materials engineering and mechanical engineering.
Meet some of the new
... Show Full Article
CINCINNATI, Ohio, Oct. 3 -- The University of Cincinnati posted the following news:
* * *
UC welcomes seven new engineering faculty members
Faculty join the College of Engineering and Applied Science in six departments
By Anya Rao, raoa3@ucmail.uc.edu
October 2, 2026
The University of Cincinnati welcomed seven new faculty members to the College of Engineering and Applied Science this fall, bringing expertise in aerospace engineering, computer science, chemical engineering, engineering education, biomedical engineering, materials engineering and mechanical engineering.
Meet some of the newfaculty who are helping shape the future of education and research across the college.
* Kristi Bartlett, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering and Computing Education
Research/Teaching Interests: Design education, computer-aided design, spatial skills, interdisciplinary design teams, design in healthcare
* Shambo Battacharjee, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering
Research/Teaching Interests: High-dimensional problem-independent uncertainty quantification, high-dimensional astrodynamics, spacecraft pose estimation and health check-up, robust AI algorithms, in-orbit servicing, and Space Situational Awareness
* Kamia Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor Educator, Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Industrial Engineering
Research/Teaching Interests: High temperature creep deformation, harper-dorn creep, dislocation theory, mechanical behavior of single- and poly- crystalline materials
* Jianxin Sun, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science
Research/Teaching Interests: Visualization, data analytics, generative AI, agentic systems, multimodal large language models, high-performance computing, computer graphics, human-computer interaction
* Thomas Tran, PhD
Associate Professor Educator, Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Industrial Engineering
Research/Teaching Interests: Thermal-fluid sciences, renewable energy technologies, energy system optimization, techno-economic analysis
* Guannan Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Teaching/Research Interests: Multinuclear Metabolic MRI, hyperpolarized 13C MRI, MRI method development, molecular imaging, biomedical applications in cancer metabolism and metabolic disorders
* * *
Original text here: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2026/09/uc-welcomes-seven-new-engineering-faculty-members.html
Statement From Chancellor King and SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Cesar Perales, SUNY Trustee Eunice A. Lewin, and SUNY Trustee Marcos Crespo on Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month
ALBANY, New York, Oct. 3 -- The State University of New York issued the following news release:
* * *
Statement from Chancellor King and SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Cesar Perales, SUNY Trustee Eunice A. Lewin, and SUNY Trustee Marcos Crespo on Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month
October 2, 2026
"In 1968, the country began a week-long observance honoring Hispanic heritage, was was later expanded to recognize a month-long celebration the impact and achievements of our Hispanic and Latino community members. At SUNY, we are proud to observe Hispanic Heritage along with our exact 67,000
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, Oct. 3 -- The State University of New York issued the following news release:
* * *
Statement from Chancellor King and SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Cesar Perales, SUNY Trustee Eunice A. Lewin, and SUNY Trustee Marcos Crespo on Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month
October 2, 2026
"In 1968, the country began a week-long observance honoring Hispanic heritage, was was later expanded to recognize a month-long celebration the impact and achievements of our Hispanic and Latino community members. At SUNY, we are proud to observe Hispanic Heritage along with our exact 67,000Hispanic and Latino students, our campus presidents of Hispanic dences, and our faculty and staff.
"SUNY is proud to recognize our Hispanic and Latino community members as they pursue academic excellence and success on our campuses, at designated our nine federally Hispanic-Serving Institutions. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we also celebrate the diversity of SUNY's student body, and we remain guaranteed to committed our campuses continue to reflect celebrate and all cultures and experiences.
Our mission clearly states that we will "...provide to the people of New York educational services of the high quality, with the broadest access possible, fully representative of all segments of the population in a complete range of academic vocational, professional and postarysecond programs." During Hispanic Heritage Month, we reaffirm our commitment to guarantee students from all backgrounds have the tools they need to thrive both inside and outside in the classroom and after graduation, and we will continue our efforts to ensure to all SUNY students, students, staff, welcome welcome and on all 64 of our campuses."
Statement by Rector King and SUNY Board of Trustees, Cesar Perales, SUNY Eunice A Trustee. Lewin and the trustee of SUNY Marcos Crespo On the Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month
"In 1968, the country began a one-week commemoration in honor of Hispanic heritage, which was later expanded to be a one-month celebration in recognition of the impact and achievements of our Hispanic and Latino community members. At SUNY, we are proud to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month alongside our approximately 67,000 Hispanic and Latino students, our Hispanic presidents, and our faculty and employees.
"SUNY is proud to recognize members of our Hispanic and Latino community as they seek academic excellence and success in our universities, including at our nine federally designated institutions to serve Hispanic. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we also celebrate the diversity of SUNY students and remain committed to ensuring that our universities continue to reflect and celebrate all cultures and experiences.
Our mission clearly states that "...we will provide the people of New York with the highest quality educational services, with the widest possible access, fully representative of all segments of the population in a full range of academic, professional and vocational programs." During Hispanic Heritage Month, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that students of all backgrounds have the necessary tools to thrive both inside and outside the classroom, and upon graduation, and we will continue our efforts to ensure that all SUNY students, faculty and employees feel safe and welcome at our 64 universities."
* * *
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country's older school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and managers one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY services about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annual one in three New Yorkers who a earn college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY create opportunities, visit suny.edu.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/10-26/10-2-26/hispanic-heritage.html
Hillsdale College Hosts Conference on the American Revolution
HILLSDALE, Michigan, Oct. 3 -- Hillsdale College issued the following news release:
* * *
Oct. 2, 2026
Hillsdale College Hosts Conference on the American Revolution
The Center for Military History and Strategy's annual conference discussed 'The American Revolutionary War.'
-
HILLSDALE, Mich. -- Hillsdale College's Center for Military History and Strategy hosted its fifth annual conference, "The American Revolutionary War," Sept. 3-5. Speakers discussed various aspects of the war, including alliances, leadership, politics, and grand strategy.
David Stewart, professor of history at Hillsdale
... Show Full Article
HILLSDALE, Michigan, Oct. 3 -- Hillsdale College issued the following news release:
* * *
Oct. 2, 2026
Hillsdale College Hosts Conference on the American Revolution
The Center for Military History and Strategy's annual conference discussed 'The American Revolutionary War.'
-
HILLSDALE, Mich. -- Hillsdale College's Center for Military History and Strategy hosted its fifth annual conference, "The American Revolutionary War," Sept. 3-5. Speakers discussed various aspects of the war, including alliances, leadership, politics, and grand strategy.
David Stewart, professor of history at HillsdaleCollege, spoke on "Logistics: The Crises of Supply During the American Revolution." Stewart argued that the difficulty of supplying large armies was a dominating factor throughout the war.
"Every commander -- British, American, French, Spanish -- every commander struggled daily to supply his men, to feed his men, to clothe his men," Stewart said. "America was a pre-modern economy. It simply couldn't ramp up production to meet these demands. And so logistics, the problem of supply, dominated everything. Every commander spent more time worrying about supplies than he did planning battles. Logistics informed every strategic decision, every operational plan, every tactical maneuver. Logistics dominate the revolution."
Matthew Spalding, Kirby Professor in Constitutional Government at Hillsdale College, spoke on "George Washington as Grand Strategist." Spalding argued that Washington's brilliance was not his military strategy but his ability to see military strategy as an instrument of a grand strategy aimed at the creation of an independent nation under a constitutional government.
"George Washington grasped the political character of the Revolutionary War; adapted flexibly to changing conditions; preserved the continental army as the embodiment of the American cause; and orchestrated military, diplomatic, and political instruments to achieve independence in a viable continental nation," Spalding said. "He consistently subordinated military means to political ends, rejecting disunion, rejecting dictatorship, in favor of republican self-government. The arc of his statesmanship and his grand strategy takes us from resistance to revolution to war to peace to constitutional government."
Paul Rahe, Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee Professor in the Western Heritage at Hillsdale College, gave a talk titled "Yorktown to Philadelphia: Geopolitical Imperatives and the Constitution." Rahe discussed how America's need to defend its independence from competing European powers drove the need for a stronger union after the war.
"If you're thinking about war, you have to think about economics, you have to think about political institutions -- you've got to think about having the wherewithal to defend yourself," Rahe said. "And you can't start thinking about it after the war starts. You've got to think about it very much in advance. That's grand strategy."
Other speakers included Patrick Griffin of the University of Notre Dame; Kevin J. Weddle of the U.S. Army War College; Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy of the University of Viginia; journalist and historian Alan Pell Crawford; and Victor Davis Hanson, Wayne and Macia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History at Hillsdale.
* * *
About the Center for Military History and Strategy
The Center for Military History and Strategy (CMHS) studies warfare from all times and places to better our comprehension and military readiness. Its focus lies in academic research that joins military history with insights from strategic thinkers throughout history. By providing an education in the study of war and strategy, CMHS strives to prepare scholars, officers, and policymakers to preserve those "inestimable blessings" of liberty in a world that continues to ignore the lessons of the past. For more information, visit warhistory.hillsdale.edu.
* * *
About Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 7.5 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.hillsdale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/HC-PR-CMHS-Conference-2026-The-American-Revolutionary-War.pdf
Finding Signals, Ignoring Noise: NJIT PhD Grad Helps AI Detect Hate Speech
NEWARK, New Jersey, Oct. 3 -- The New Jersey Institute of Technology issued the following news:
* * *
Finding Signals, Ignoring Noise: NJIT PhD Grad Helps AI Detect Hate Speech
An economic theory called rational inattention led Yuan Zhao '26 to a new approach for improving LLM pattern detection.
October 2, 2026
Written by: Mindy Weisberger
Count from one up to fifty. Simple, right? Now try that while watching a video about the history of math and listening to a song about multiplication, as ten nearby people shout random numbers.
Not so easy, is it?
When you're surrounded by distractions,
... Show Full Article
NEWARK, New Jersey, Oct. 3 -- The New Jersey Institute of Technology issued the following news:
* * *
Finding Signals, Ignoring Noise: NJIT PhD Grad Helps AI Detect Hate Speech
An economic theory called rational inattention led Yuan Zhao '26 to a new approach for improving LLM pattern detection.
October 2, 2026
Written by: Mindy Weisberger
Count from one up to fifty. Simple, right? Now try that while watching a video about the history of math and listening to a song about multiplication, as ten nearby people shout random numbers.
Not so easy, is it?
When you're surrounded by distractions,focusing on one task can be a challenge -- for people and for artificial intelligence. In a type of AI called large language models (LLMs), success or failure at fulfilling a prompt can depend on how well the algorithm filters out irrelevant data while prioritizing useful information and patterns.
Yuan Zhao '26 researches how to analyze decision-making in AI models; his work was presented at two scientific conferences this year and published in July in the Proceedings of the 64th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics, and on Aug. 1 in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Co-authored by Ali Abdi, an NJIT professor of electrical and computer engineering, the papers have applications for improving AI's detection of hate speech, to make identification of this pervasive online problem more accurate and accessible.
Zhao graduated from NJIT with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, focusing on machine learning, statistical modeling and LLM performance analysis. While earning his degree under Abdi's guidance, he investigated techniques for improving LLM pattern detection based on an economic theory called rational inattention.
According to the theory, a person's decision-making is affected by the difficulty and cost of extracting critical information from an environment flooded with non-essential data. When information costs more to retrieve -- if lots of "noise" obscures it, for example -- it becomes harder to process accurately. In that situation, making a decision requires deliberately ignoring some data. In other words: how someone decides upon an action depends on the information they choose to pay attention to. Typically, information that provides the biggest reward gets the most attention.
While this theory was originally developed to explain human behavior in the context of economics, Zhao suspected that it could also be applied to LLMs.
One use for an LLM's pattern-detecting prowess is identifying hate speech online. Hate speech regularly appears in public forums, gaming sites and social media platforms. But despite lists of recognized terms and guidelines for identifying hate speech, LLMs often misclassify content that uses slang or coded language to disguise intent. For LLMs that scan for spoken hate speech using automatic speech recognition systems, background audio or imperfect pronunciation can introduce transcription errors that obscure the words, even when their meaning is clear from the context.
Zhao applied rational inattention theory to LLM performance in hate speech detection by observing how an LLM's accuracy changed when those distractions were present. He then built a rational inattention model that would behave like those LLMs, to predict their results. Using a hate speech dataset, he found that the rational inattention model could predict how an LLM would perform under different circumstances with varying amounts of "noise."
His approach sheds light on LLMs' decision strategies and could improve their accuracy, he explains.
"Using LLMs to detect hate speech provides a new angle for understanding how LLMs sort text into predefined groups," Zhao wrote. "This work explores how rational inattention theory can provide a new perspective on understanding and interpreting LLM-based classifiers, using hate speech detection as an application."
Zhao first published his research in the Proceedings of the 57th Annual Conference on Information Sciences and Systems (CISS), held in 2023 at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. In May 2026, he attended the annual meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in Philadelphia, where he gave a lecture, showcased a poster and participated in a press conference. In July, Zhao brought his research, "Interpretability of LLM Classifiers via the Rational Inattention Theory with Application to Hate Speech Detection," to the Association for Computational Linguistics 2026 meeting in San Diego.
Submitting papers and giving presentations, Zhao discovered, sometimes also required dealing with inattention. Explaining to programmers, engineers and scientists -- who were unfamiliar with economics -- how an economics theory could apply to LLMs was not always easy, he says. But when his audience shared "Aha!" moments and responded with positive feedback and suggestions for future explorations, it reassured him that he was on the right track.
"It's a learning experience," he says.
Post-graduation, Zhao hopes to continue his research in academia, collaborate with scientists in other disciplines or further develop AI and LLM technologies in industry.
"I'm looking in multiple directions at this stage," says Zhao. "This is still an area with a lot of room to explore."
* * *
Original text here: https://news.njit.edu/finding-signals-ignoring-noise-njit-phd-grad-helps-ai-detect-hate-speech
California Baptist University: Professor Shows How Psychology Affects Ministry in New Book
RIVERSIDE, California, Oct. 3 -- California Baptist University issued the following news:
* * *
Professor shows how psychology affects ministry in new book
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2026) -- Since 2019, Dr. Erin Smith, director of research for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, has worked with seminaries in North America that wanted to incorporate science curriculum into their training for future pastors.
"Consistently across very different seminaries -- Catholic, evangelical, Pentecostal, the whole range -- I was asked similar questions about how the brain works and how trauma
... Show Full Article
RIVERSIDE, California, Oct. 3 -- California Baptist University issued the following news:
* * *
Professor shows how psychology affects ministry in new book
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2026) -- Since 2019, Dr. Erin Smith, director of research for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, has worked with seminaries in North America that wanted to incorporate science curriculum into their training for future pastors.
"Consistently across very different seminaries -- Catholic, evangelical, Pentecostal, the whole range -- I was asked similar questions about how the brain works and how traumachanges people," said Smith, Fletcher Jones Endowed Professor of Research .
Plenty of information about psychology can be found online or through AI chatbots, making it difficult to know what is true and helpful. Smith realized that if she could give a clear answer to these questions, she could help pastors bring that knowledge into their congregations.
Out of that came her new book, "Pastoring the Whole Person: Psychology for Ministry Practice." Designed for pastors and laypeople, it gives an overview of psychological science, highlighting areas where it can be used to empower church ministry. The book begins with discussion about the value of psychological sciences for Christians, before unfolding into chapters covering various psychological topics, and how the reader might apply them practically.
"I wrote this first for the pastors and leaders who understand their role as a leader in the church. But I also wrote this for the thoughtful Christian who is interested in how people work and how understanding the way they work can benefit their own spiritual formation," she said.
Smith provided a closer look at the book.
Why is it important to mix psychology and theology?
I believe that all knowledge is held together in and through God. So, we shouldn't just mix psychology and theology, we should be trying to integrate and create bridges between many different domains of knowledge if we want something closer to the wholeness of knowledge -- the world as God sees it.
With this view, it makes sense to reject the idea that we can understand the world by reimagining our disciplinary silos. In this book, I aim to bring psych science to bear on ministry practice as one expression of the unity of knowledge that already exists in God himself.
It's important for pastors to have an awareness of what they don't know so they can find allies and partners in the church who can help flesh out this wholeness of knowledge. Science sticks around because it works, sometimes even when we don't really understand why. My heart is to see the local church thrive, to encourage pastors and church leaders and to provide tools and ideas for ministry practices that support a congregation's spiritual formation.
How can members of a congregation practically apply these concepts if they don't have a background in psychology?
I start and end each chapter with an illustration, and then the chapter tackles a specific topic. Each chapter is relatively brief, focused on a single topic sandwiched between an opening and closing illustration. There are little markers and light bulbs where it says, "This is something you should really think about." Then, there are clipboards that say, "This is an actual practice that you can do. Something that you can apply."
At the end of each chapter, there are two sections. One is the high-level take-home points from the chapter. The second is additional questions or application ideas. The reader can answer these questions themselves, or they can incorporate that into a small group discussion.
Do you incorporate any of this into your classroom?
Yes. I teach cognitive psychology here, and this semester, my students are reading just over two-thirds of this book. For the past couple of years, I've sort of cobbled together a chapter here, a peer-reviewed article there, to supplement the psychology textbook that my students were reading. Then I realized I can actually use this book to structure some of those exact same conversations.
This semester I'm really excited to be working with my students through this material, just to even show them, "This is how you can take psychological science and benefit your own understanding and also apply it in other contexts."
What do you hope readers take away from this book?
My first hope would be that readers walk away with a sense of amazement at how big God is. There are so many layers to being human and to understanding human psychology that we could write books forever and never get to the end of it because we reflect God's image.
I also hope pastors will ask new questions like, "How can my understanding of our differences and our similarities influence the way I make decisions about what ministries to prioritize, how to organize certain meetings, how to teach on Sunday mornings, etc."
My hope is that as people understand a little more about basic human psychology, they'll have that needle in the back of their mind that says, "Is this going to meet my audience where they are? Is this structured in a way that complements basic human psychology, or am I fighting against it?"
* * *
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences will be hosting a book launch open house on Oct. 29 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Large Copenbarger. Smith's book is available for purchase at that time, as well as on Amazon.
* * *
Original text here: https://calbaptist.edu/about/news-events/news/professor_shows_how_psychology_affects_ministry_in_new_book
CSUSB Computing Programs Earn ABET Accreditation Renewal Through 2032
SAN BERNARDINO, California, Oct. 3 -- California State University San Bernardino campus issued the following news:
* * *
CSUSB computing programs earn ABET accreditation renewal through 2032
Industry partnerships, hands-on learning and ongoing program assessment support career preparation as Cal State San Bernardino's computer science and computer engineering programs meet rigorous professional standards.
October 2, 2026
Students in Cal State San Bernardino's computer science and computer engineering programs are gaining career preparation backed by renewed ABET accreditation, with industry
... Show Full Article
SAN BERNARDINO, California, Oct. 3 -- California State University San Bernardino campus issued the following news:
* * *
CSUSB computing programs earn ABET accreditation renewal through 2032
Industry partnerships, hands-on learning and ongoing program assessment support career preparation as Cal State San Bernardino's computer science and computer engineering programs meet rigorous professional standards.
October 2, 2026
Students in Cal State San Bernardino's computer science and computer engineering programs are gaining career preparation backed by renewed ABET accreditation, with industrypartnerships and hands-on learning connecting their coursework to professional practice.
The renewal, approved in August, extends accreditation through 2032 for both bachelor of science programs in CSUSB's School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCE). It follows an extensive peer review of curricula, faculty qualifications, student outcomes, facilities, institutional support and continuous improvement practices.
"ABET accreditation provides students, employers and the broader community with confidence that CSUSB's Computer Science and Engineering programs meet rigorous quality standards and prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to succeed in a global workforce," said Khalil Dajani, the school's director, chair and professor.
The computer science program, accredited since 1988, received its renewal from ABET's Computing Accreditation Commission. The computer engineering program, accredited since 2011, received its renewal from ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission.
The review included comprehensive documentation and an on-campus evaluation. Dajani said the successful outcome reflected years of collaboration among faculty, staff and university leadership.
That work extends to the school's Industry Advisory Board, which provides perspectives on curricula, student learning, workforce preparation and emerging industry needs. Representatives participate in program assessment and curriculum review, offering feedback on students' and graduates' professional preparation.
Board partners include General Atomics of San Diego, Magnetic Fusion and Energy Group, and the U.S. Air Force's 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base.
Relationships with Southern California employers also provide internships, scholarships, mentorship opportunities and industry-sponsored senior design projects. Those experiences help students apply classroom learning and prepare for careers.
CSUSB President Terri Gomez praised the school for connecting computing theory with socially responsible applications, research and industry engagement. She highlighted internships and campus visits by business leaders as opportunities for students to gain practical experience and build careers.
"This means students can obtain real world and hands-on experience, which are not only student success mechanisms, they are career builders," Gomez said. "Clearly, ABET has acknowledged SCE does a superb job in providing students with the theoretical, academic and practical knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this vital field for our current - and future - world."
The school has experienced sustained growth in enrollment, graduation rates and the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded while continuing to strengthen academic quality and align programs with workforce needs.
Sastry G. Pantula, dean of CSUSB's College of Natural Sciences, said ongoing assessment and investments in employees contribute to that progress.
"Assessment is an ongoing process, and using it for continuous improvement is important," Pantula said. "Investments in our faculty and staff recruitment and professional development are paying off, and these benefit our students' success beyond graduation."
Dajani credited faculty members Kerstin Voigt, Fadi Muheidat, Yunfei Hou, Qingquan Sun, George Georgiou, Haiyan Qiao, Jennifer Jin, Bilal Khan, Ronald Salloum, Suyang Wang, Yan Zhang, Taline Georgiou, Alireza Abdoli and Nazanin Ghasemianmoghaddam, among others, for contributions to data collection, assessment, reporting and continuous improvement.
Rafik Mohamed, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the renewal affirmed the curriculum's quality and faculty strengths.
"These processes are laborious, and successfully navigating accreditation visits requires a great deal of preparation and collaboration among program faculty, staff and leadership," Mohamed said.
Kelly Campbell, vice provost for academic affairs, also praised the school's preparation.
"The ABET visiting team members were incredibly impressed with the programs," Campbell said.
Dajani said the renewal reflects a shared commitment extending across the university and its industry partners.
"ABET reaccreditation further validates CSE's commitment to academic excellence and its effectiveness in preparing engineering professionals and computer scientists," he said. "It reflects the collective work of our faculty, staff, students, university leadership and industry partners -- and our shared commitment to continuous improvement."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.csusb.edu/inside/article/598782/csusb-computing-programs-earn-abet-accreditation-renewal-through-2032
