Welcome to ISM 3011!
Hello! I am excited for the start of the semester and looking forward to getting to know you.
Some things to know about me:
I truly care about you, your success in this class, and your success in the future.
Your success is my success. You are welcome to email, Canvas Message, Teams Chat, or text me any time for any reason. I am happy to provide clarification and support you in any way possible.
I strive to grade your submissions in a timely manner. Consequently, I won’t always provide detailed written feedback for every submission. If you ever earn less than the full points on any assignment, I hope that by reviewing the instructions and the rubric you will understand the rationale for your grade. If ever you do not, I am happy to provide additional feedback, just ask!
I am extremely available and am able to meet in person or online if you ever want.
Some things to know about the course:
I did not design it. Within the College of Business, most classes are designed by a course coordinator and are standardized. I have the ability to change just a few things. I have taught the class previously and do feel that most of it is very interesting and useful.
You should devote multiple hours to the class every week. I strongly encourage you to use an academic calendar to plan your life. I have some tips and a walkthrough video at https://sites.google.com/site/profvanselow/success/time-management Everything for the whole semester is available now. I suggest you work ahead if possible.
As we reach the end of the semester, I want to pause and recognize what you’ve accomplished. Completing this course, especially alongside work, family responsibilities, financial pressure, and the many uncertainties of life, is not a small thing. For those of you who crossed the finish line successfully, you should be proud. You showed up, adapted, and kept going even when the material felt unfamiliar, the technology didn’t cooperate, or your motivation dipped. That persistence matters far more than perfection.
Over the semester, you didn’t just learn about Information Systems, you learned how to think about technology in a business context. You learned how systems support strategy, how data becomes insight, how technology creates advantage, and how ethical and human considerations must always remain part of the conversation. These are not just academic skills. These are lenses you will carry into your careers, interviews, and decision-making long after this course fades from memory.
I also want to speak directly to those of you who did not complete the course as successfully as you hoped. Please hear this clearly: a difficult semester does not define you. Struggle, missteps, or unfinished work are not permanent conditions, they are feedback. You still learned something valuable, even if it wasn’t what you expected. Maybe you learned the importance of time management. Maybe you learned what kinds of support you need to ask for earlier. Maybe you learned something about resilience, boundaries, or self-awareness. Growth often shows up disguised as disappointment. What matters most is how you respond next.
One of the most important lessons in Information Systems, and in life, is adaptability. Technologies change. Systems fail. Plans evolve. The people who succeed are not the ones who never struggle, but the ones who learn, adjust, and keep moving forward. I hope you take that mindset with you.
I want to thank you, genuinely, for the opportunity to teach you and to get to know you this semester. It has been a pleasure watching you wrestle with ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and make connections between technology and your own goals. Teaching is a privilege, and I don’t take that lightly.
As you head into the break, I encourage you to practice gratitude. When family or friends ask about school, share some of the cool things you’ve learned this semester. Thank the people who supported you, even when they didn’t fully understand what you were working on. None of us does this alone.
Please know that this does not have to be goodbye. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, stop by my office, or send a note anytime, for advice, encouragement, questions, or just to say hello. I would love to hear how your story continues.
Wishing you rest, reflection, and confidence as you move forward. Keep learning. Keep adapting. And keep believing in your ability to grow.
Warm regards,
Prof. Vanselow