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University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

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Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#31

Post by wtvanhest »

rlovelett wrote: post #21

For those of you who have a "vested" interest in the reputation of a department you graduated from many years previous (and by many I mean more than a year ago) and are worried about its reflection on you. Perhaps, instead, you should concern yourself with your personal professional achievements and credentials post graduation and how those reflect on you. To me that seems like a MUCH more productive use of your time…

I like to take a "vested" interest in my undergrad and my personal acheivements... but even still...

Go Knights!

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#32

Post by wtvanhest »

quanticle wrote: post #13

The fertile environment for software tech companies in Gainesville and Florida as a whole will be severely damaged. Is Gainesville really that fertile a ground for software startups? Moreover, will reducing research funding at University of Florida necessarily make the existing environment for startups worse? For example, what if the savings are invested into a greater emphasis on teaching?

Also, what happens in Gainesville will have no effect on what happens at UCF, FSU etc. Each of those schools are 2 hours drive from each other.

People in Silicon Valley don't worry about what happens in LA.

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#33

Post by JoeAltmaier »

dfranke wrote: post #11

I graduated from UF in 2007 and have in no way since kept up with departmental politics, but as of then, CISE was a bit of a Frankenstein creature. As an undergraduate, if you were looking for a computing-related degree, you had five possible majors to choose from: * Computer Science (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; CISE Department) * Computer Engineering with Software Emphasis (College of Engineering; CISE Dep…

I can't deny that the department being cut back is a good one. But sometimes there isn't room for all the good departments.

I plant 4 tomato plants every spring. In a few weeks I pull up 2 of them, even if they are thriving. There is only so much soil, water and sunlight to go around.

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#34

Post by excuse-me »

dfranke wrote: post #11

I graduated from UF in 2007 and have in no way since kept up with departmental politics, but as of then, CISE was a bit of a Frankenstein creature. As an undergraduate, if you were looking for a computing-related degree, you had five possible majors to choose from: * Computer Science (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; CISE Department) * Computer Engineering with Software Emphasis (College of Engineering; CISE Dep…

So which had the best football team?

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#35

Post by rockarage »

Is this the same University of Florida that did this: Give a 6 year 24 million contract to a coach of a so called amateur sports team ? http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4374311 Is this the same UF that gets a cut of SEC 2.25 billion dollar contract ? http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2008/08/2008...? Yes I think it is. Hmmm I wonder why they have nothing left for cs education.

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#36

Post by aggronn »

achompas wrote: post #20
dfranke wrote: post #11

I graduated from UF in 2007 and have in no way since kept up with departmental politics, but as of then, CISE was a bit of a Frankenstein creature. As an undergraduate, if you were looking for a computing-related degree, you had five possible majors to choose from: * Computer Science (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; CISE Department) * Computer Engineering with Software Emphasis (College of Engineering; CISE Dep…

I'm also a 2007 alum, and I steered clear of CS as an undergraduate because of the confusing organization you describe above. If that organization wasn't so confusing, I would have tried CS out (vs. the econ BA I hold right now and the MSCS I'm working on now). The department may have problems, but shutting down research throws the baby out with the bathwater. Degree consolidation would go a long way to improving stu…

I'm about to graduate from UF's eco department. How is your MSCS program treating you? I'm likely going down a similar route.

Also, just a department update: the our department accepted its last PhD class for the foreseeable future this year because of money and declining faculty. Denslow is retiring after this semester.

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#37

Post by rokkaku99 »

rlovelett wrote: post #21

For those of you who have a "vested" interest in the reputation of a department you graduated from many years previous (and by many I mean more than a year ago) and are worried about its reflection on you. Perhaps, instead, you should concern yourself with your personal professional achievements and credentials post graduation and how those reflect on you. To me that seems like a MUCH more productive use of your time…

I think that I've gotten jobs despite, not because of, my UF degree. But the skills that have let me get those jobs were burnished in research labs in the CS department. Research labs that will go away if the dean's plan goes through.

Some of us just don't believe in pulling up the ladder after we've climbed up it. Having an active department turning out competent graduates is good for us as alumni, good for Florida, and good for the field of computer science.

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#38

Post by Danieru »

ahelwer wrote: post #17
Danieru wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure that is what OP is talking about? U of Calgary still has a software engineering program within engineering, which I think is the situation OP is talking about. With that said I'm in the computer science program and it is still very computer sciencey so I think we've avoided the duplication.

Yes, the software eng program is still around. There is quite a bit of overlap with comp sci though - unless you're taking an honours degree there will be a number of software eng students in most of your classes (networking, operating systems, etc.) I think the fate of computer eng was to have it split between computer science and EE. I'll have to ask coworkers at lunch. Have we met? I'm Andrew Helwer. The guy that…

That likely is the case, I never do know what programs most of my classmates are in.

We haven't meet but I have heard of you. Last semester a friend in discrete mathematics from bio-info mentioned your problem solving club.

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#39

Post by ryguytilidie »

luser001 wrote: post #10

Seems like the university is deciding to focus on Electrical and Computer Engineering and deemphasize Computer Science. Core competence and all that. It even has an odd name like CISE (Computer and Information Science and Engineering). http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120411/ARTICLES/1204198...

How on earth is a University doing this in 2012? Just makes no sense at all that you would cut one of the fastest growing fields on earth...

Re: University of Florida shutting down research in Computer Science department

#40

Post by wpietri »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #33
dfranke wrote: post #11

I graduated from UF in 2007 and have in no way since kept up with departmental politics, but as of then, CISE was a bit of a Frankenstein creature. As an undergraduate, if you were looking for a computing-related degree, you had five possible majors to choose from: * Computer Science (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; CISE Department) * Computer Engineering with Software Emphasis (College of Engineering; CISE Dep…

I can't deny that the department being cut back is a good one. But sometimes there isn't room for all the good departments. I plant 4 tomato plants every spring. In a few weeks I pull up 2 of them, even if they are thriving. There is only so much soil, water and sunlight to go around.

Great point. After all, computer science is a relatively unimportant discipline. It's obviously a waning field. As we've seen in the news, people with CS degrees don't make much money and almost never get rich, so they are unlikely to donate to schools later on in life.
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