SEECS NewsLetter - Volume 2

In This Issue	*Independent Colleges of Computing Embrace New Era*
Independent Computing Colleges Embrace New Era	In an era where information powers, a growing number of higher-learning institutions have responded to the rapid growth of computer and information sciences by creating an independent College or School of Computing. The formation of separate, self-reporting Computing Colleges, once considered an unusual move, is becoming much more common. "Several factors seem to be the impetus for creating separate academic units," states Dr. Peter Freeman, founding Dean of the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. "A compelling one is the synergy in curriculum and research that can be obtained by pulling together the various computing-related disciplines." Freeman, who is on leave from Georgia Tech to serve as Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation's Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate, adds, "Another strong driver is that the rigidity of most academic organizations makes it difficult for a new and growing field such as computing to get the resources it needs to fulfill its responsibilities when it is buried in an existing unit. A third driver, in some cases, is the recognition that CS really is a new discipline, sharing commonalities with engineering, math and traditional science, but not completely within the paradigm of any of those fields."	A Growing Revolution With first-hand experience in the transition from department to independent college, Freeman believes it is absolutely not too late for institutions to join the growing "trend" of separate computing units. "The revolution is, in fact, barely started," Freeman says. "And given the slowness of universities to change, most are still trying to deal with the earliest aspects of the computing revolution." He adds that a standalone college or school of computing will provide any institution with a competitive edge and that it signals the campus understands the importance of computing in academe and in the world. Debra J. Richardson, Interim Dean for the newly approved School of Information and Computer Science, University of California at Irvine, agrees with Freeman. "The creation of the School of ICS is a clear statement to current and future students, faculty and collaborators that the University of California recognizes the importance of the information revolution and intends to position UC at the forefront of technology's future," Richardson stated in a UC press release. She added, "This action by the UC regents both recognizes the growth of information and computer sciences and enables us to establish our already strong education and research programs among the best in the nation and world." Dr. Michael Gottfredson, UC Executive Vice Chancellor, strongly supports the new school at the Irvine campus: "The change from department to school for ICS is an idea whose time has clearly come." (Independent Colleges of Computing continued on the next link)
CS Professor Mubarak Shah Elected to Fellow of the IEEE
SEECS Conference and Journal Publications
Society of Women Engineers Chapter Wins First Place in Three National Awards	A number of institutions in the United States and Canada have made the transition into an independent College or School of Computing/Computer Science. Among them are leading programs in computing: Carnegie Mellon: School of Computer Science Cornell University: Faculty of Computing and Information Science DePaul University: School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems Georgia Institute of Technology: College of Computing New Jersey Institute of Technology: College of Computing Sciences	Northeastern University: College of Computer & Information Science Pace University: School of Computer Science & Information Systems Pennsylvania State University: School of Information Sciences and Technology Queen's University (Kingston, ON): School of Computing Rochester Institute of Technology: College of Computing & Information Sciences University of California, Irvine: School of Information & Computer Science University of North Carolina, Charlotte: College of Information Technology

seecs network - volume 2 - issue 1 - spring 2003
For information or to submit story ideas contact Michelle Berberet, Information Specialist, at (407) 823-2750 or email: michelle@cs.ucf.edu

SEECS Network is a publication of the Director's
Office of the School of Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science at University of Central Florida
PO Box 162362 * Orlando, FL 32816-2362
Phone: (407) 823-2341 * Fax: (407) 823-5419
www.seecs.ucf.edu
©2003. All rights reserved.