Augustana University will launch its newest academic program, Augustana University Fintech Program by Pathward™2023年秋天. With the support of Augustana’s key strategic partner, Pathward™,N.A.(原纽约州MetaBank).A.), the major will be the first of its kind in the region.
Dr. 雷蒙德·利奇, assistant professor of 计算机科学 and business administration, has been named the inaugural director of Augustana University Fintech Program by Pathward.
“Dr. Leach is a fantastic teacher,” said Dr. 科林·欧文，教务长 & 执行副总裁. “He's able to convert problems, possibilities and ideas into curricula that are experiential, 用数据集, issues and problems from these intersecting fields and convert them into open-ended, authentic student learning experiences.”
在奥古斯塔之前, Leach served as a research associate at the Claremont Institute for Economic Policy Studies and statistics instructor at California State University, 洛杉矶. 里奇获得了博士学位.D. and Master of Arts in economics from Claremont Graduate University and Bachelor of Science in economics and statistics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He also earned a certificate in machine learning from Stanford University.
“Fintech is the use of technology to make financial services better, 更快更方便,里奇说。.
Fintech consists of four verticals or specializations: payments space or the process of transferring money electronically; lending, which includes peer-to-peer and micro loans; wealth man年龄ment or optimizing portfolios, as well as buying and selling stocks and assets; and blockchains, which are public ledgers of cryptocurrency transactions that exist across a network.
The Augustana University Fintech Program by Pathward major will be interdisciplinary; students will take accounting, 金融, 计算机科学, statistics and economics courses. Students also will complete an internship arranged by Augustana with local companies.
除了, Leach developed three courses specific to the program — the introductory course, 金融科技原理, will be an overview of the four verticals. 其他课程, Financial Institutions and Banking as a Service, will take an in-depth look at the functions of commercial banks, regulations of banking services and emerging bank technologies.
“The program is immediately going to stand out and appeal to students who are looking for practical knowledge that applies to the workforce,利奇说。. “The skill sets and tools we're going to be able to teach them — that specific bundling of computer programming and data analytics, and the topics specific to fintech, along with internships — are going to be huge.”
As a bank that has relationships with many fintechs through its Banking as a Service strategic business line, Pathward said it’s excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Augustana and provide students with the ability to learn about the banking and payments industry.
“Sioux Falls has a strong banking and fintech presence,” Pathward Executive Vice President of Governance, Risk and Compliance Sonja Theisen said. “With Augustana’s close proximity and reputation for producing high-quality graduates, the program is a natural alliance.
“The fintech and banking segment have many opportunities for talent development and growth, and Augustana Fintech students will be well-positioned to take advant年龄 of these opportunities. With the knowledge and confidence they gain through the program, we expect they will hit the ground running upon graduation.”
Augustana University Fintech Program by Pathward is supported by a team of corporations serving on an advisory board — MarketBeat, Bancorp的, 资本服务, 目标的解决方案, PREMIER Bankcard and Central Payments, 还有Pathward.
The first Augustana University Fintech Program by Pathward course is set to be offered in Fall 2023, and the first cohort is projected to graduate in 2027.
To learn more about the program, visit 奥吉.edu/fintech.