UF Eliminating Computer Science Department

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
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<p>University</a> of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department, Increases Athletic Budgets. Hmm. - Forbes</p>

<p>I had to reread this article a couple of times to make sure it wasn't a joke, like from The Onion or something. What is Governor Scott thinking?</p>

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Wow, no one saw this coming. The University of Florida announced this past week that it was dropping its computer science department, which will allow it to save about $1.7 million. The school is eliminating all funding for teaching assistants in computer science, cutting the graduate and research programs entirely, and moving the tattered remnants into other departments.</p>

<p>Let’s get this straight: in the midst of a technology revolution, with a shortage of engineers and computer scientists, UF decides to cut computer science completely?</p>

<p>Students at UF have already organized protests, and have created a website dedicated to saving the CS department. Several distinguished computer scientists have written to the president of UF to express their concerns, in very blunt terms. Prof. Zvi Galil, Dean of Computing at Georgia Tech, is “amazed, shocked, and angered.” Prof. S.N. Maheshwari, former Dean of Engineering at IIT Delhi, calls this move “outrageously wrong.” Computer scientist Carl de Boor, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and winner of the 2003 National Medal of Science, asked the UF president “What were you thinking?”</p>

<p>(Note to the students, if you need more quotes for your site: I think this move is shockingly short-sighted. The University of Florida is moving backwards while the rest of the world moves ahead.)</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the athletic budget for the current year is $99 million, an increase of more than $2 million from last year. The increase alone would more than offset the savings supposedly gained by cutting computer science.</p>

<p>Now, I’m not saying that UF has chosen football over science. (Imagine the outcry, though, if UF cut a major sport instead of a major science department.) Actually, the real villains here are the Florida state legislators, who have cut the budget for their flagship university by 30% over the past 6 years.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, just two days ago, Florida governor Rick Scott approved the creation of a brand-new public university, Florida Polytechnic University, to be located near the city of Tampa. In an unintentionally ironic statement, Gov. Scott said</p>

<pre><code>“At a time when the number of graduates of Florida’s universities in the STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] fields is not projected to meet workforce needs, the establishment of Florida Polytechnic University will help us move the needle in the right direction.”
</code></pre>

<p>Heads up, Gov. Scott: no one is going to believe that you’re supporting technical education when your flagship university is eliminating its Computer Science Department. Since cutting support for universities seems to be a major agenda item for you and the legislature, why stop at 30%? With just a bit more cutting, you could get rid of those annoying universities entirely. Let the rest of the country worry about higher education! Florida can focus on orange groves and golf courses. Oh, and football.</p>

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<p>If this happens, I have to rethink my whole college choice =/</p>

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<p>Unfortunately the administration at UF does not and has not relatively cared that much about students. Fortunately we are beginning to see that with this extremely short sided move</p>

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<p>What the hell?! Computer Science is what I planned on majoring on and now this happens…</p>

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<p>Before over-reacting to this, it needs to me mentioned that UF has two “computer science” programs, one in CLAS, and one in Engineering. So, are we really talking about the elimination of Computer Science at UF as this article seems to suggest, or are we talking about a rational consolidation of programs?</p>

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<p>This sounds so sensationalist it’s hilarious…</p>

<p>MORE ON FOX NEWS AT 11PM</p>

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<p>its sensationist. but if you want to go to UF for CS research (not a CS education, you’ll still get a pretty decent one of those here), then you might be better off a UCF.</p>

<p>its being restructured into a teaching department per the actual proposal. until all of the good faculty leave (which may or may not happen), you can still get a very good CS degree from UF after the transition. heres the actual release for anyone interested:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.eng.ufl.edu/files/2012/04/Budget-Cut-Plan-2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.eng.ufl.edu/files/2012/04/Budget-Cut-Plan-2012.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>when the forbes guy says</p>

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<p>hes contradicting what he says right before it. its BS.</p>

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<p>aka, undergraduates are not directly effected. and no, getting rid of TA’s isn’t so bad–most of them barely speak english. computer science at uf is not being eliminated. computer science research at UF is being eliminated.</p>

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<p>No, I think the proposal is the the research component only be eliminated from the CLAS program and be consolidated with the COE program, leaving the engineering college the only research arm for computer science. Degree programs will be available in either college, but the hard-core research will be left to the COE.</p>

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<p>The University of Florida is following the University of Central Florida’s lead on this one. UCF moved Computer Science to its’ Engineering College between 5 and 10 years ago.</p>

<p>The move was a positive one.</p>

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<p>Rogracer, thanks for clarifying that. It makes a little more sense now (still a bad idea, though).</p>

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<p>I guess no one would read the article if the headline was “UF consolidates research component of computer science into college of engineering”</p>

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<p>To put this in perspective, there has always been some question, from an educational perspective, if Computer Science should be blended with a liberal-arts or engineering education. Indeed, different universities have differing philosophies on this. Those arguments are reasonable and valid for an undergraduate program. But, for research and PhD-levels of education those arguments break down, and it makes little sense to carry two programs. To UF’s credit, they are still carrying both programs where it makes sense to distinguish them from a legitimate educational perspective.</p>

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<p>UF Releases Statement Today</p>

<p>“A Forbes article by contributing writer Steven Salzberg falsely claims that the University of Florida is eliminating the Computer Science Department. There have been similar claims made by others on other media platforms.”</p>

<p>Full article here:
[UF</a> Statement Made April 23rd, 2012 | UF | College of Engineering](<a href=“http://www.eng.ufl.edu/news/uf-statement-made-april-23rd-2012/]UF”>http://www.eng.ufl.edu/news/uf-statement-made-april-23rd-2012/)</p>

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<p>I lol’d…</p>

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<p>Words are the Worlds most dangerous weapons. It is obvious to me that someone on this thread has an axe to grind with UF.</p>

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<p>The move is to eliminate Computer Science research, though keeping Computer Engineering. This will downgrade Computer Science at UF from flagship level to directional/community college level because all the good, active professors will leave. This is no separate research component. Any professor who is any good is doing both research and teaching, providing students an opportunity to learn what is current in the field. These professors will leave. I would imagine many students go to UF because of its high quality, which depends on the high quality of its faculty.</p>

<p>The various CS degrees at UF are confusing. It looks like the current department, though officially in the COE, offers degree plans for different colleges, so Computer Science is really in one department there.</p>

<p>I would agree that there is a case for making many departments at many colleges to be teaching-only. Is there really a need for everybody to be doing research? However, it is wrong-headed for a flagship university to go this direction. You are telling students to go somewhere else if you want to go somewhere really good. Also, doing this to Computer Science is mind-boggling, given that computer software is sort of fundamental to our society.</p>

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<p>…and along comes Florida Poly, the new 12th wonder of the Florida state university system. Florida Poly opens for business July 1, 2012. Maybe Florida Poly can fill any computer science void; the new university has nothing else going on!</p>

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<p>I’m a current freshman who is a Computer Science major. Is this being moved out of the College of Engineering all together? I know it’s in the Liberal Arts department also lol, which I’d never do.</p>

<p>Like what’s going to happen exactly for current Majors? You can’t be a Computer Science major anymore now? Where would you see an advisor at? Do I have to change my major?</p>

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<p>Forbes article half true?</p>

<p>[PolitiFact</a> Florida: Is UF spending almost $100 million on athletics while cutting an engineering program? - Tampa Bay Times](<a href=“http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/politifact-florida-is-uf-spending-almost-100-million-on-athletics-while/1226644]PolitiFact”>http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/politifact-florida-is-uf-spending-almost-100-million-on-athletics-while/1226644)</p>

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<p>^Lizard, the Athletics/UAA budget is separate from the rest of the University. It does not count as even relevant. Lots of news places are misguided.</p>

<p>The degree still exists. It’s just that the CISE department is being “merged” or absorbed by other parts of the college. The biggest complaint people have is the drastic reduction of research now, which will cut the prestige the CS major. The programs will still exist, though, from what I understand. You can still major in CS I think…it just won’t be as good, not nearly as “prestigious”. I am in the business college, so I am not sure.</p>

<p>I am a student here, and I saw the action and protests. It’s unfortunate, but it’s not over. Other colleges are cutting down, too. I hear the business college is going to reduce the economics department.</p>