College will create Center to address technology needs of the region
FARMINGDALE, NY - Farmingdale State College announced today that it will receive construction funding for its Center for Computer Science and Information Technology Systems building. The $75 million project, funded through Empire State Development’s Long Island Investment Fund (LIIF) and the State University Construction Fund, will address a vital need for the College and the Long Island region by positioning Farmingdale to continue delivering talent that meets the growing digital technology needs of the region.
FSC President John Nader said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul, the Empire State Development Corporation, the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, and the State University of New York, Farmingdale’s longstanding vision of a transformative investment in Long Island’s digital future will become a reality. This is much more than a building project. The Center for Computer Science and Information Technology Systems will serve Long Island’s high technology workforce needs for many years to come." The Center will house the College’s Division of Computing which will integrate several closely related programs including Computer Programming and Information Systems, Computer Science, Computer Security Technology, Geographic Information Systems, as well as the College’s graduate program in Technology Management. FSC is also proposing a degree offering in Artificial Intelligence Management. If approved, the program could begin in 2023.
Farmingdale began actively advocating for the Center in 2016. Endorsement and enthusiasm for the project is widespread and longstanding. Recognizing FSC’s place in addressing Long Island’s brain drain, and sustaining educational opportunities that lead to high quality careers, the project was endorsed broadly by members of Long Island’s New York State Assembly delegation, members of the State Senate, the Long Island Federation of Labor, and the Long Island Association. Nader added, “The Center for Computer Science and Information Technology Systems addresses key priorities of Governor Hochul, SUNY, and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. The project will yield a growing supply of talented graduates and skilled professionals to serve the region’s tech sector.” Within the new Center, Farmingdale will prepare a steady stream of computer science, artificial intelligence, and information technology graduates to work in vital, tradeable sectors of our economy and will further the College’s place in retaining young talent on Long Island.
The Center will allow Farmingdale State College to expand its array of offerings in the digital technology fields and offer IT workforce trainings to underserved populations. Industry sanctioned certificates and credentials are offered as part of six interrelated baccalaureate degrees with concentrations ranging from network administration to application and web development, computer forensics and cyber security. The College is a national leader in the number of women enrolled and graduating from accredited programs in the engineering technology fields.
These programs produced more than 500 graduates last year. The College’s Division of Computing offers a range of programs with complementary curricula that prepare hundreds of students for careers spanning programming, mobile application development, networking systems, information technology, cybersecurity, software development, and more. Three of these programs were added since 2017 and have solidified Farmingdale’s strong enrollment, maintaining its competitive position in the region.
The building will house contemporary interactive classrooms and computing spaces to unite programs now spread across multiple buildings, improving efficiency and fostering deeper collaboration with key stakeholders. These programs are projected to dramatically increase in enrollment in the coming years. The building will give students and faculty shared space to work with local firms through applied, project-based learning to address industry challenges. Well-equipped computer laboratories and instructional technology will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills sought by employers in the region.
