FAYETTE, Iowa (KCRG) – Five new degree programs at Upper Iowa University will help students get trained in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and business analytics.

While AI and cybersecurity may be foreign to Main Street business owners, Dubuque County IT Director Nathan Gilmore says investing in the fields is critical.

“It only takes one breach or it only takes one incident to potentially make them close up shop or wipe out years of profits,” says Gilmore.

Data breaches occur every 39 seconds, according to cybersecurity company SentinelOne.

“It is, at this point, in my opinion, no different than an electric bill or a water bill,” explains Gilmore. “It’s just part of doing business.”

While investments in cybersecurity can help protect companies, Gilmore says artificial intelligence can help business owners save time and money. AI can complete automated tasks, including billing, scheduling appointments, and answering questions for customers online, among others.

“It’s automated. You’re not using actual staff time. Those are the sorts of force multipliers you can use AI in a very positive fashion,” says Gilmore.

Gilmore says more trained workers are needed in both growing fields to address demand, and new degree programs at Upper Iowa University launching this fall will help fill the need.

“It was kind of a no-brainer for us,” shares Dr. Billie Cowley, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Upper Iowa University.

This fall, UIU in Fayette is launching the following:

• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
• Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics
• Master of Business Administration, Cybersecurity
• Master of Business Administration, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Master of Public Administration, Cybersecurity

“It’s extremely exciting. There will be a pool of knowledgeable, trained people who will be able to serve this Upper Midwest region,” says Gilmore. “Yes, a lot of this stuff can be none remotely. No question, it can be, but Main Street is also a very face-to-face type world. They want to talk to somebody.”

Cowley says she’s seen firsthand the rate at which AI is evolving.

“We’ve done some AI training with faculty, and what we learn in the fall is now different than what we know in the spring,” says Cowley.

To match, Cowley says the programs are designed to shift to match how these fields evolve.

“That is massive because this is not a static industry,” says Gilmore. “If those programs are set up to incorporate the changes that are here and coming, that is a massive boom for these programs because this stuff is changing monthly.”

Cowley says there’s no limit to the number of students Upper Iowa will enroll in these programs. Instead, enrollment will be based on demand, and staff will be hired, as needed.

“Upper Iowa is like home to me and my husband,” shares Cowley. “To be apart and see this growth, there’s no words to describe what this means.”

More information about UIU’s new offerings can be found at GO.UIU.EDU/FutureReady.

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