College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) Memo
June 23, 2005
Page 2
MEMORANDUM
TO: The University Community
FROM: Mark B. Rosenberg, Provost & Executive Vice President
DATE: June 23, 2005
SUBJECT: College of Engineering and Computing (CEC)
Following an extensive period of deliberate and thoughtful discussions at various forums, and affirmative support from faculty in the College of Engineering, the School of Computer Science, and the Faculty Senate, I am pleased to announce the merger of School of Computer Science with the College of Engineering effective July 1, 2005. We expect that the combined resources will offer our students a better, more comprehensive approach to the new frontiers in computing hardware and software/telecommunications and advanced applications.
In this new configuration, the College of Engineering will become the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), to be led by Executive Dean Vish Prasad. The School of Computer Science will be renamed the School of Computing and Information Sciences (SCIS), under the direction of Dean Yi Deng.
I would like to commend colleagues in both units and in the Senate for their contributions to the discussion about the options leading to this decision, which reflects the University's ongoing commitment to enhance our capabilities in advanced computing, instruction, and research. It underlines our view that the School of Computing and Information Sciences should play a major role in education throughout the institution and should raise its profile as an enabler of advanced research.
This new configuration will foster greater activity in joint/collaborative research among the faculty in the new college and will facilitate intensified multidisciplinary research involving faculty of the new college and faculty throughout the University. We expect curricular efficiencies and an enhancement of our ability to meet new Board of Governors' expectations for targeted degree production. We expect reductions in duplicative instructional efforts between computer science and computer engineering. Further, we will gain effectiveness in managing graduate education and in developing and delivering off-campus, distance-learning and corporate programs. We also expect that development and advancement initiatives will improve through this new configuration. We are very excited about the expanded engagement of the award-winning Center for Diversity in Engineering and pre-collegiate program initiatives within the new College.
During the past two decades, we have witnessed significant changes in the field of computing and information science. Colleagues in the School of Computer Science have shown their awareness of, and adaptability to, these changes. In Engineering, there is strong receptivity to forging new partnerships and building new academic and research programs. I have asked Drs. Prasad and Deng to develop a transition plan immediately and move ahead with the integration of the two units. Tenure for faculty in the School of Computer Science will be transferred to the new School of Computing and Information Sciences (with CIP 11.0101). The tenure and promotion process for this coming academic year (2005-06) will follow procedures already in place.
Although I do not expect any changes in the near future relating to the physical location of programs, the success of this initiative in part will depend on greater proximity among the cooperative programs. A unified Faculty Council on Governance will be developed with appropriate representation from all academic units of the expanded College.
I want to thank you all for your willingness to identify and debate options and bring this matter to closure.
Office of the Provost
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