Student Organizations
The cyber-related academic programs at Murray State University go far beyond the classroom. From extracurricular organizations to national conferences, cyber-related students have the opportunity to explore computer and information technology in a number of different ways. The activities and organizations may vary based on a studen't major.
Association of Cybersecurity & Network Management (ACNM)
The Association of Cybersecurity & Network Management (ACNM) is a student group dedicated to creating activities for CNM students. ACNM members attend monthly meetings with guest speakers, participate in trips to companies in the telecom field, help with Homecoming activities and events sponsored by technology and security companies, and attend educational conferences.
In 2008, ACNM, formerly ATSM, became the first International Telecommunications and Research Association student chapter, a move that helped gain national recognition for the CNM program.
The group’s current faculty advisor is Dr. Randall Joyce.
Esports
Esports is a form of competition using video games that often take the form of organized teams in multiplayer games. Competitive multiplayer tournaments have been around for over a decade now but the 'esports industry' has become a major industry over the past several years. Murray State University has joined in this industry by elevating a student club into the official esports organization for the campus.
Murray State Esports supports multiple competitive teams in the following games: League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch, Valorant, Rainbow Six: Siege, Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Hearthstone.
Want to join Murray State Esports? Learn more about our Esports team.
Women in Computing (WIC)
The Women in Computing club grew out of the felt need for a place where women interested in computing could meet and discuss items of interest to them while keeping the focus on technology. The club was started by Dr. Brenda Wilson in 2008 when her research identified that the type of problems that women liked to solve was in many ways different from their male counterparts. Projects and assignments needed to be different to keep their interest in computing alive. Dr. Wilson has worked hard in her own courses to make this a reality. The club, under the leadership of Dr. Wilson, has hosted two conferences for women in Kentucky and Tennessee (2010 and 2012).
The group is advised by Dr. Marcia Combs.
Association of Computing Machinery (ACM)
This organization draws most of its students from the Computer Science discipline. They elect their own officers and schedule meetings almost every month. Whenever possible, the officers arrange for tours of companies in the Western Kentucky area. They have also visited several high-tech companies in the Huntsville, AL, area. A major activity of ACM is to hold the regional programming competition in Murray each October. Teams from several Universities in this region participate in the intense day-long affair.
The group's current faculty advisor is Dr. Matthew Tennyson.
Association Of Information Technology (AITP)
Most of the Computer Information Students choose to participate in this club. Like the ACM, AITP also elects its officers each year who plan the activities for the year. The club meets at least once a month formally and arranges for other activities for that month. They have participated in homecoming parades, trips to attend chapter meetings at Nashville (second Thursdays), tours of area IT facilities, regional and National Conferences and several fund raising activities to help pay for all the trips. Student members are eligible for several scholarships from the Foundation for IT Education Scholarship.
The group is advised by Dr. Solomon Antony.