A BIG WTF - Univ of Florida eliminates computer science dept

[slngsht]

No, this is NOT from the Onion.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/04/22/university-of-florida-eliminates-computer-science-department-increases-athletic-budgets-hmm/

 

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 $1.4 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.

 

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?

 

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?”

 

(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.)

 

Meanwhile, the athletic budget for the current year is $99 million, $97.7 million, an increase of more than $2 million from last year. The increase alone would offset the savings supposedly gained by cutting computer science.

 

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.

 

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

 

“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.”

 

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.

 

[Note to readers, 1:15pm Monday 23 April: many commenters have correctly pointed out that the University Athletic Association, which funds athletics at UF, maintains a separate budget from the University of Florida. The UAA Director reports to the President of UF. Also, two numbers which differed slightly from what had been published by the sources cited were changed to reflect information sent by the university after publication. A response from UF is here.]

[slomove]

Probably belongs into the neighboring forum section. But that is one result of the "Small Government" craze coupled with stupidity. We are surely going to cut our taxes until we resemble Somalia.

[slngsht]

I didn't see this as political, but will move it.

[DeanG]

Hopefully they can put the money they save into big time college sports.

[MHKflyer52]

I wonder whose brother-in-law will be getting the contract to build the new university and who owns the land that it will be built on and if they will have a Football team at the new university?

[BruceBowker]

As a like you know graduate from you know UF and like one of the top footballers from there you know I think the atheletes department is like you know really inportant for you know an overall good you know education and you know without athletes games schools would like you know fall apart and schools all need you know football and like basketball and you know other sports to you know round out a good eductation and you know without it I would you know not be where I am you know like today.

[Croc]

This bone headed move by UF does make sense for Florida. All they need in that state are people who can run aged care facilities or theme parks. They dont even need space cadets any more!

 

 

 

(Running for cover now! )

[BusaNostra]

...mr. india & mr. philippines said --- good! we need MORE OUTSOURCING job.

[MHKflyer52]

What no Space Camp anymore either.....you know.....

[turboeric]

First a caveat - I know nothing about the specifics of this decision. However, I'm faculty at a small Canadian university (not Comp Sci), and I know that CS departments all over the continent are struggling for students, and this isn't the first CS department to close. You need to be clear on what CS is. The IT and tech innovation that people associate with CS actually mostly come out of the engineering field, not the academic study of the theories behind computing. Much of what we see as the marvels of computer technology come from electronic engineers and software engineers. And, more and more of that work is being done overseas. Our CS department is experiencing growth because of a partnership with a Chinese university. Our domestic students are staying away.

 

Too many young people who are interested in computing are interested in gaming, and when they see the math and physics requirements for a career path there, retreat to their parent's basement and go back to their games. They're simply not as motivated to succeed as their third world counterparts.

[Mondo]

You could probably use that stereotype for all college students.... I think DEVO was right 30 years ago, we're de-evolving;)